Spotlight on Saint-Joseph
by Tom Wolf
Spotlight on Saint-Joseph
by Tom Wolf
“Saint Joseph receives my vote as France’s most under-rated appellation.”
—Kermit, October 1981
As you drive from Lyon to Provence, you pass by some of the most venerated and breathtaking vineyard land in the world. The hills that rise from the Rhône River are steep enough to trigger vertigo, and yet vines of Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne seem to climb every last one of them. In some cases, these vines zig and zag up the inclines, switchbacking along stone terraces built by the Romans. In others, they cascade straight down the slopes until they reach the river valley. You can’t help but wonder who decided that making wines from these hills was a good idea. That vignerons continue to do so, despite the added expenses and difficulties, is a testament to how good the wine can be.
Most of the prestigious appellations in this region, the northern Rhône, are tiny, spread across only a few hundred hectares of these hills each at most. At the northern end of the region, Côte-Rôtie’s Syrah vines occupy 327 hectares. At the southern end, meanwhile, Cornas clocks in at 155 hectares and Hermitage only 134.
By contrast, Saint-Joseph stretches across 1,382 hectares from Côte-Rôtie to Cornas and encompasses all kinds of terroirs that include near-vertical inclines, gently rolling plateaus above them, and the lower and gentler slopes below. Such a vast geographic and topographical range results in a wide variety of wine styles and quality. Kermit took interest in Saint-Joseph early, and today we represent some of the appellation’s most talented growers working in its very top sites. By exploring Saint-Joseph, you’ll get to know some of the finest reds and whites in the whole northern Rhône.
Wines In The Collection
Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
The violets, tapenade, and juicy black fruit in your glass is much unchanged from how it’s always been (and should be).
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
Most of this blanc was aged in tank to preserve freshness, but the little bit that was aged in oak provides a glimmer of opulence.
France | Northern Rhône
The violets, tapenade, and juicy black fruit in your glass is much unchanged from how it’s always been (and should be).
France | Northern Rhône
Most of this blanc was aged in tank to preserve freshness, but the little bit that was aged in oak provides a glimmer of opulence.
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