Notify me
2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Clef de Sol”
Domaine Jolivet
Jolivet’s white Saint-Joseph is an entirely different animal, made almost exclusively from the beguiling Marsanne grape, which reaches its loftiest potential in the granite soils of this part of France. Round and generous on first blush and then wound up, energetic, and fine-grained on the finish, this thoroughbred wine is sculpted for the cellar but still provides a lot of immediate gratification. His 2018 was one of the highlights of my travels on the wine route last year.
—Dixon Brooke
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 95% Marsanne, 5% Roussanne |
Appellation: | Saint-Joseph |
Country: | France |
Region: | Northern Rhône |
Producer: | Domaine Jolivet |
Winemaker: | Bastien Jolivet |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1960-70, 2016, 2023; 2 ha |
Soil: | Granite |
Aging: | Aged for 12 months in 228L oak barrels, 10% of which are new |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region

2023 Condrieu
France | Northern Rhône
Its ravishing perfume, luxurious body and texture, and unique abilities at table endow this Condrieu with a special place in the connoisseur’s cellar.

2021 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
France | Northern Rhône
It is a real-deal northern Rhône roasted-slope Syrah that walks the tightrope perfectly between creamy fruit, meaty tannins, and fresh spine.

2023 Saint-Péray Blanc
France | Northern Rhône
With a nose of gunflint and suave Marsanne fruit, it has length and finesse; extremely limited availability

2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge
France | Northern Rhône
Dark and earthy with an inky grip, it offers the region’s renowned refinement with a more approachable price tag.

2023 Vin de France Blanc “Cuvée de Louis”
France | Northern Rhône
Golden, luscious aroma and flavor, a delicious nectar infused with honeysuckle that invites you in at first sniff for a leisurely dip.

2022 Côte-Rôtie
France | Northern Rhône
The pinnacle of traditional Côte-Rôtie being produced today.

2021 Cornas
France | Northern Rhône
Majestically dark and brooding Cornas, layered with aromas of herbs and mint. Extremely limited availability

2023 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah “l’Art Zélé”
France | Northern Rhône
If you want to experience classic flavors of northern Rhône Syrah, here is a textbook example evoking velvety blackberry fruit, cracked pepper, and crushed schist stone.

2022 Saint-Joseph “Les Grisières”
France | Northern Rhône
Yearning for northern Rhône magic? Here you go. Pull a cork or more and see what I mean.

2020 Côte-Rôtie “Fongeant”
France | Northern Rhône
From the border of the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, and renowned for sharing the best of both: structure from the Brune, with silky, floral elegance provided by the Blonde.
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
2023 Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2021 Cornas “Renaissance”
Domaine Clape France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint Joseph Rouge “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Côte-Rôtie “Emporium”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint-Joseph “Les Grisières”
André Perret France | Northern Rhône
2021 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint-Joseph Blanc
Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2022 Cornas
Domaine Clape France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie
Domaine Jamet France | Northern Rhône
2023 Vin de France Blanc “Cuvée de Louis”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Rouge “La Gloriette Vieilles Vignes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2023 Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2021 Cornas “Renaissance”
Domaine Clape France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint Joseph Rouge “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Côte-Rôtie “Emporium”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint-Joseph “Les Grisières”
André Perret France | Northern Rhône
2021 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint-Joseph Blanc
Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2022 Cornas
Domaine Clape France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie
Domaine Jamet France | Northern Rhône
2023 Vin de France Blanc “Cuvée de Louis”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint Joseph Rouge “La Gloriette Vieilles Vignes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
Where the newsletter started

Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch