Saint Joseph Le Clos, Maison M. Chapoutier 2014

The two flagship releases from St Joseph include the Le Clos and Les Granits. From a difficult vintage, I was shocked at the quality of the 2014 St Joseph Le Clos; this warmer, east-facing vineyard continues to impress. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and impeccably balanced, it has a liquid-rock character as well as notes of cassis, blackberries, crushed flowers and graphite. Brought up in 30% new French oak, it’s a sensational St Joseph that will be approachable in another 2-3 years and have 15-20 years of prime drinking.

More focused and delineated than the Les Granits release, the 2014 Saint Joseph le Clos comes from a mostly east-facing parcel that's located high up on the slope. Surprisingly, it’s an early ripening parcel that’s harvest in mid-September in most vintages. Crème de cassis, liquid rock, graphite and violets characteristics all flow to a full-bodied, structures and layered Saint Joseph that has uncommon density, concentration and depth. It will have two decades of longevity.