Saint Joseph Granits Blanc, Maison M. Chapoutier 2021

Saint Joseph wasn't affected by the frost, so the production of the 2021 Saint Joseph Les Granits Blanc is healthy. It's a terrific wine as well and offers a medium gold hue to go with impressive aromatics of honeyed stone, apricot, white flowers, and orange blossom-like nuances. It shows the fresh, classic, focused style of the vintage and is a beautiful Saint Joseph Blanc to enjoy over the coming decade.

All barrel-fermented Marsanne from Tournon's lieu-dit Saint-Joseph, Chapoutier's 2021 Saint-Joseph Les Granits Blanc is another candidate for the appellation's top white wine. Scents of struck match, melon, peach and lime mark the nose, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, plump and succulent. Is there even a touch of botrytis? Long and gently textured, with a silky finish, it's a beauty to drink over the next several years, perhaps longer.