St Joseph, L'Instinct, 2020
Lovely layered aromatics, a dark but fresh bramble perfume with a hint of spice. More tight-knit on the palate, very tannic but super silky, closed and tense yet with flow and clar, fresh fruit. This will need time to unwind but the class is there to see. Intense but composed dark cassis fruit with a hint of liqueur black pepper, and dried herb. The warmth of the vintage has been well tempered and controlled here. St Joseph of proper density and complexity. Built to last. A blend of 10, predominantly east-facing, St Joseph parcels in St Jean de Muzols – one of the renowned, original St Joseph villages, situated in the southern part of the appellation. The components of the final blend are all vinified separately and fermented with between 25-70% whole bunches depending on the plot. Aged for 14 months in barriques and larger demi-muids barrels with very little new wood.
critic reviews
Saturated violet color. Highly perfumed red and blue fruit preserve, potpourri and olive aromas are sharpened by cracked pepper and smoky mineral nuances. Sappy, appealingly sweet and precise on the palate, offering energetic blueberry, cherry-cola and candied violet flavors that show impressive depth and become spicier with air. Finishes smoky, smooth and impressively long, with lingering spiciness and gentle, slow-building tannins that lend final grip.