Saint Joseph Rouge, J-L Chave 2017

Moving to the reds and starting with the 2017 Saint Joseph, this beauty offers classic notes of earthy dark fruits, bacon fat, ground pepper, and black olives. Coming from a mix of terroirs, all in the southern part of the appellation, it’s medium to full-bodied, has ample concentration, and considerable elegance, all pointing to it evolving gracefully for over a decade. 2020 - 2030

Just a wonderfully fun, joyous expression of the appellation, Chave's 2017 Saint Joseph was set to be bottled the day after my visit. It blends lots from Chalaix, Dardouille, Les Oliviers, Bachasson, and Le Clos Florentin into a medium to full-bodied wine loaded with cherries and delicate herbal nuances. Silky and crisp on the finish, it can be enjoyed now and anytime over the next 5-6 years.