2022 Dm de La Roche Paradis Saint Joseph Blanc Les Vessettes, Northern Rhone

A field blend, produced from 50 % Marsanne (planted mid 1950s) and 50 % Roussanne (younger vines) planted in decomposed granitic soil at Les Vessettes on the slope above the town of Chavanay. Barrel-fermented with natural yeasts and matured in barrique for 8 months, without battonage. Only 355 dozen produced. A richer style of Saint Joseph blanc which retains good freshness and acidity and balance. Outstanding in 2022.

Domaine de La Roche Paradis Saint Joseph Blanc Les Vessettes is a beautifully textured and mineral-driven white from the Northern Rhône, crafted by Yann Menager, a rising star known for his low-intervention, terroir-focused approach. This wine captures the quiet intensity and detail of its granite-rich site, delivering a refined take on Rhône white varieties with energy, elegance and depth.

Les Vessettes is a small, high-altitude parcel on decomposed granite soils near Serrières, farmed organically and entirely by hand. The blend is predominantly Marsanne with a touch of Roussanne, typical of the Saint Joseph Blanc style but rendered here with remarkable precision and restraint.

Yann vinifies the wine with native yeasts in older oak barrels, using no additions or manipulations. There's no new oak, no fining or filtration, and minimal sulphur at bottling. The result is a wine that feels alive in the glass, with purity and quiet complexity that builds with time.

On the nose, it offers white peach, lemon zest, chamomile, almond and a subtle note of wet stone. The palate is medium-bodied and layered, with fresh acidity, delicate texture and a salty, mineral finish. It’s a wine of nuance and quiet confidence, more about tension than weight.

Perfect with grilled trout, roast chicken with fennel, or aged Comté. Drink it now for its vibrancy, or cellar for up to 6 to 8 years to see it develop creamy, savoury depth.