2021 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
Domaine Jolivet
A classic interpretation of this great terroir for Syrah, fermented whole-cluster and aged in the traditional larger cask of the region, the demi-muid, 2021 has the added bonus of coming from a classic throwback vintage with slightly cooler average temperatures. It is a real-deal northern Rhône roasted-slope Syrah that walks the tightrope perfectly between creamy fruit, meaty tannins, and fresh spine—another great one for the cellar if you can keep your hands off it!
—Dixon Brooke
| Wine Type: | red |
| Vintage: | 2021 |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | Syrah |
| Appellation: | Saint-Joseph |
| Country: | France |
| Region: | Northern Rhône |
| Producer: | Domaine Jolivet |
| Winemaker: | Bastien Jolivet |
| Vineyard: | Planted in 1960-67, 1997-2010, 2015; 6.5 ha |
| Soil: | Granite |
| Aging: | Aged for 12 months in 500L demi-muids, 5% of which are new |
| Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
| Alcohol: | 12.5% |
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About The Producer
Domaine Jolivet
Our latest discovery from Saint-Joseph comes from the talented hand of young Bastien Jolivet, working his family’s vineyards in the hamlet of Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. Bastien inherited the family domaine in 2014 from his father, who sold the grapes from their five hectares to the local cooperative. But Bastien set his sights higher, eager to turn the family’s holdings into domaine-bottled, terroir-driven Saint-Joseph. In only his first decade running the winery, Bastien expanded the property to 13 hectares in total, which he works organically. The winery sits at the base of a very steep and terraced hillside where many of his Saint-Joseph vines sit. In the rare moments when Jolivet is not outdoors tending his vines, he shows a magical touch in the cellar. He has made huge strides since he began in 2014 and his wines are getting better every year. He is poised to be a rising star of the appellation.
More from Northern Rhône or France
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2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Clef de Sol”
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2023 Le Vin des Amis
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2023 Saint-Joseph Rouge
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2022 Côte-Rôtie “La Boisselée”
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171