Dating back to 2015, the Alleno & Chapoutier Saint Joseph Croix Chabot 2015 is a luxuriously complex synergy of French artistry. Renowned Michelin starred chef Yannick Alléno and Rhône winemaker Michel Chapoutier immaculately craft this exquisite spirit. Sourced from a parcel on Saint Joseph's hill known as 'Croix Chabot,' the vineyard embraces an ideal geographic spot. This fertile land nurtures granitic soils that imbue the wine with a distinct minerality.

The features of Syrah grapes beautifully shine through their vinification in concrete tanks followed by an ageing process in oak barrels for a span of 12 to 18 months. This meticulous process ensures a harmonious blend of the wine's fruity and spicy characters.

The elegant full-bodied Alleno & Chapoutier Saint Joseph Croix Chabot 2015 unfurls flavours of dark fruit and undertones of liquorice and violet. With a delightful lingering finish, it offers a rich and inviting experience for the true wine connoisseur.

Vinous (91-93)

Shimmering violet color. Primary red and blue fruit aromas, along with suggestions of olive, smoked meat and cracked pepper. Offers fleshy, appealingly sweet cherry and blackberry flavors that turn spicier and firm up through the back half. Subtly chewy tannins add grip to a long, smoky finish that leaves cherry and spice notes behind.

Wine Advocate (96+)

In complete contrast to the sexy, flamboyant les Granits, the tiny production 2012 Saint Joseph le Clos (which comes from a vineyard just a couple kilometers from the les Granits) is firm, tight and structured, with edgy notes of cassis, blackberry, powdered rock and ground herbs. Full-bodied, concentrated and rich, it needs 3-4 years in the cellar, and will have two decades of longevity. This is almost non-existent in the marketplace, but it's worth the effort to track down.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

I've loved every vintage of this cuvée and the 2018 Saint Joseph Le Clos is undoubtedly with the best of them. Incredibly complex notes of black raspberries, flowers, lavender, bouquet garni, and a terrific sense of elegance all emerge from the glass, and this full-bodied beauty has a silky, elegant texture, great tannins, and one seriously lengthy finish. It shows more spice and meaty nuances with time in the glass and this is more Hermitage than your classic Saint Joseph. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 20 years.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

A more reductive, meaty, backward effort than normal, the 2018 Saint Joseph Les Granits is all Syrah that comes from unquestionably one of the top terroirs in Saint-Joseph. It was vinified in concrete tanks and aged in a mix of barrels and demi-muids, 20% being new. It blossoms with air and reveals an almost Hermitage-like class and minerality, with killer crème de cassis and black raspberry fruits supported by loads of smoked game, saddle leather, crushed stone, barbecue smoke, garrigue, and violet-like aromas and flavors. Just incredible on the palate as well, with medium to full-bodied richness, awesome tannins, and a liquid rock-like minerality, this tour de force from Saint-Joseph ranks with the finest vintage of this cuvée ever made and matches the 2015, although it shows a very different style. It should be snatched up by readers. It will need 3-5 years of bottle age and will drink brilliantly over the following 20 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

A killer wine as always, the 2018 Saint Joseph Les Granits Blanc reveals a medium gold color as well as powerful notes of white currants, toasted spices, brioche, quince, and crushed rock. With beautiful richness, medium to full body, no hard edges and a great finish, it's consistently one of the great whites in the appellation.

Jeb Dunnuck (95)

The 2019 Saint Joseph Silice Blanc is a gorgeous white based on 100% Marsanne. Loads of stony mineral notes as well as white flowers and white currants define this full-bodied, rich, concentrated beauty. Remarkably pure, it offers subtle background oak, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This is another head-turning wine from this incredible estate. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade.

Vinous (93-95)

A highly fragrant bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented black/blue fruits, Moroccan spices, olive and candied flowers, along with a smoky mineral element that builds as the wine opens up. Juicy, energetic and focused on the palate, offering appealingly sweet boysenberry, cherry preserve and violet pastille flavors that deepen steadily through the midpalate. The floral note resonates on the impressively long finish, which features well-knit tannins and a smoky mineral quality.

Incredibly focused aromas of lifted black cherries and dark chocolate-coated violet creams dominate, before the concentrated, mouthcoating blackcurrant fruit pervades the palate. However, it is the pure energy of the wine, along with the harmonious concentration of fruit and freshness, and the fine yet pertinent tannins that is really impressive here. This is a truly lovely, powerful yet balanced Saint Joseph.

Vinous (96)

The 2016 Pinot Nero Case Via is fabulous. In fact, the 2016 may very well be the finest edition of Fontodi's Pinot I have ever tasted. A wine of tremendous aromatic intensity, inner sweetness and delineation, the 2016 Pinot simply has it all. Of course, the highly favorable growing season adds quite a bit of pedigree as well. The Fontodi Pinot is not especially varietal, but it is off the charts beautiful and absolutely compelling. It was fermented in terra cotta and aged in French oak, 50% new. What a wine!

Wine Spectator (97)

Beautiful deep ruby with incredible richness in aroma--blackberry, blueberry and plum--tempered by sweet spice from the oak. This offers mouth filling lushness, intense fruit, terrific balance and harmony, with a long, complex finish.--Non-blind Flaccianello vertical (July 2014). Best from 2017 through 2032. 4,000 cases made.

Vinous (98)

Fontodi's 2013 Flaccianello della Pieve is a fabulous, riveting wine that grabs hold of all the senses. There is plenty of the richness and textural depth that have always been a Fontodi signature, but in the more contemporary style that seeks to marry power and elegance. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2013 is still very much in its inky, primary stage.

Vinous (96)

The 2014 Flaccianello della Pieve will probably drink well a bit earlier than the Vigna del Sorbo, as it has more midpalate creaminess, softer contours and a slightly more immediate personality. Even so, the translucent finesse of the vintage is very much in evidence. A rush of black cherry, plum, tobacco, licorice, chocolate and spice infuses the sweet, creamy finish. The 2014 spent 18 months in oak (less than was once the norm), 80% of it new.

Vinous (99)

The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is even more stratospheric than it was last year. Rich and ample on the palate, Flaccianello captures all of the best qualities of this radiant vintage. The blend of sites, all in higher altitude spots near the center of town, yields a gorgeous, riveting wine of the very highest level. Dense and brooding, with magnificent energy as well as nuance, the 2015 Flaccianello is positively stunning.

Vinous (99)

The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is even more stratospheric than it was last year. Rich and ample on the palate, Flaccianello captures all of the best qualities of this radiant vintage. The blend of sites, all in higher altitude spots near the center of town, yields a gorgeous, riveting wine of the very highest level. Dense and brooding, with magnificent energy as well as nuance, the 2015 Flaccianello is positively stunning.

Vinous (100)

The 2016 Flaccianello della Pieve is off the charts. Fresh, vibrant and explosive, with tremendous overall intensity, the 2016 possesses magnificent richness, with sumptuous fruit purity and simply unreal balance. Creamy, silky tannins add to the wine's sophistication and overall polish. The 2016 is dark, inky and powerful, but not at all heavy. Giovanni Manetti gave the 2016 18 months in French oak (75-80% new), followed by 6 months in cask. This is the first vintage in which a small amount (2%) of the wine was aged in amphora. In a word: stunning! Don't miss it.

Vinous (97)

The 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is fabulous. Dark, sensual and enveloping, the 2017 captures the essence of the house style in its textural richness and baritone inflections. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous richness. The 2017 spent 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask, the same aging regime as the Vigna del Sorbo, but with a bit more new oak. That approach worked very well, as the Flaccianello stands out for its exceptional textural elegance and finesse. It is a positively stellar wine.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2020 Flaccianello della Pieve is the full package. This point is clear when you taste all the other wines in the Fontodi portfolio and conclude with this bottle. This organic Sangiovese shows beautiful intensity and remains balanced throughout with dark fruit, crushed stone, spice and wild rose. It borrows themes of elegance, depth and ripeness played across this vintage. The wine wraps smoothly over the palate with substantial fruit weight and sweet tannins. This warm-vintage expression can be aged or enjoyed straight out of the gate. Production is 60,000 bottles.

Experience the exquisite taste of Georges Lelektsoglou Saint-Joseph Trois Freres 2020, crafted meticulously from the prestigious vineyards of Rhône Valley, France. This compelling red is a product of authentic viticultural savoir-faire and passion. Renowned producer Georges Lelektsoglou has curated a blend coupling the intensity of Syrah bolstered by the delicacy of Marsanne Roussanne. This wine is a product of traditional vinification methods; the grapes are hand-picked, followed by partial destemming and careful ageing in both wooden vats and barrels.

The Georges Lelektsoglou Saint-Joseph Trois Freres 2020 emits an inviting aroma of dark fruit with an undertone of spice and licorice. It is well-structured, complex, offering an impeccable balance of engaging tannins and vibrant acidity; it culminates in an impressively enduring finish. This fine wine pairs harmoniously with robust dishes, greatly enhancing the dining experience.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

One of the whites of the vintage in the appellation, the 2020 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint Joseph Blanc has awesome notes of quince, grilled peach, honeysuckle, and spicy wood. With medium to full-bodied richness, the balance is perfect, its oak is nicely integrated, and it has a great finish.

Wine Spectator (96)

This ripples with stunning raspberry and boysenberry coulis flavors, inlaid liberally with anise and apple wood notes and carrying through the well-defined finish. Lush in feel overall, with a mocha note draped over everything, keeping terrific energy in reserve. Best from 2020 through 2030.

Jancis Robinson (18+)

Tasted at the domaine. Beautiful nose with succulent pastille juiciness and purity with a strong smoked note. Such ripeness on the palate with beautiful depth and weight – the tannins are defined and sculpted – hard to believe it has 100% new oak. Plush and forward in a beautifully packaged, layered finish.

Vinous (91)

Opaque ruby. Primary cherry, cassis, peony and olive qualities on the perfumed nose, along with hints of cracked pepper and licorice in the background. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that unfold slowly and turn spicier with air. The long, velvety finish features supple tannins and leaves behind a sweet dark berry note.

Vinous (95)

Deep magenta. Displays highly perfumed red and blue fruit preserve, floral, spice and mineral qualities on the expansive nose. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering ripe blueberry, black raspberry and candied violet flavors that tighten up slowly and become spicier with aeration. Blends the power of this vintage deftly with energy and finishes wonderfully long and precise, with the blue fruit and floral notes repeating.

The Laurent Habrard Saint-Joseph 2021 is a rare gem in the world of fine wines. Produced in the esteemed vineyards of Rhône Valley in France, this exquisite varietal embodies the rich terroir and meticulous vinification process. Laurent Habrard, a fourth-generation winemaker, ensures its traditional family techniques such as organic farming are safeguarded whilst innovating to consistently produce unprecedented quality.

The Laurent Habrard Saint-Joseph 2021 showcases the Syrah grape, presenting a wine laced with complex aromas of black fruits, pepper and licorice backed by a balanced, meaty palate. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, it acquires a subtle vanilla touch, coupled with a long-lasting, profound finish.

This wine is a quintessentially multidimensional, reflecting the passion, dedication, and craftsmanship of Laurent Habrard. Connoisseurs will find the Laurent Habrard Saint-Joseph 2021 a delightful addition to their collection, a testament to the sublime finesse and elegance of Laurent Habrard's winemaking philosophy.

Vinous (91)

Bright violet. Mineral-accented cherry, dark berry and violet scents are complicated by hints of olive, cracked pepper and licorice. Seamless and broad on the palate, offering juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and livelier with air. A subtle floral pastille note appears on the clinging finish, which shows good delineation and harmonious tannins.

James Suckling (98)

St. Joseph is often declared to be a second tier appellation in the Northern Rhone, but here’s proof that it can play in the first league of the region. This has an incredibly deep nose of ripe blackberries, other forest berries and smoke. On the barely full-bodied palate it is simultaneously rich, focused and extremely complex with very graceful fine tannins and stacks of stony minerality at the breathtakingly fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.