Domaine Jolivet’s Starry Saint Joseph 2022s

“A new name to note, genuine talent, most impressive, destined to be a top, top name at Saint-Joseph in the decades to come.” – John Livingstone-Learmonth

So says our favourite Rhone correspondent, John Livingstone-Learmonth, who this year after fifty vintages in the valley has decided to hang up his correspondent-boots. A shame for those of us who have enjoyed his succinct and insightful views on more producers in the Rhone valley than any other critic. It’s fair to say though that it is a lot of work to keep up with happenings in the Rhone with so many good producers popping up. In that spirit, following on from our Johann Michel’s Cornas 2022 offer earlier this week, we are delighted to spotlight another young gun in the form of Domaine Jolivet.

Youthful Bastien Jolivet inherited the family domaine in 2014, taking over from his father who had previously sold their grapes to the co-operative. Following local and international harvest experience, Bastien came back to St.Jean du Muzols – one of the truly great St Joseph villages, in its southern sector, made famous by the likes of Trollat and Gonon, with the goal to put the Jolivet name and their incredibly steep, terraced, granitic vineyards on the map. As such, he’s always in the vineyards, and has established a quite visionary, long-term planting programme which enables him to produce stunning, terroir-driven wines in both colours.

In the cellar, he favours a high proportion of whole clusters and larger format 600L demi-muid French oak barrels, maxing out at 5% new. The wines here since 2014 have been on a march of progress and Bastien’s 2022s are his finest releases to date. Deep but measured and inviting with bewitching floral notes and herbal touches, the main Cuvee L’Instinct is a classy St Joseph at only £140 IB per case, on the table inc. VAT at just £31.46 per bottle.

Cuvee 1907 is Bastien’s top wine and represents just two barrels in total. Glossier, with notes of mint and fresh herb, licorice and sandalwood, the 2022 is sleek with a deep-seated mineral complexity and high-quality velvety tannins. Produced with 100% whole clusters as a selection of the oldest vines from the middle of the slope, this stunning red is only produced in the best vintages. At £225 IB per case, it works out at £48.46 per bottle on the table inc. VAT.