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 (95)

(two barrels produced, vs. a normal eight): Bright, pale yellow. Vibrant aromas of lemon gelato and wild herbs. Very complex, pure and refined, boasting an utterly silky, seamless texture to its intense citrus peel, fresh herb and mineral flavors. Really outstanding inner-mouth energy here, followed by a slowly mounting finish that saturates the taste buds. A great wine in the making, but not for drinking anytime soon. (I found the 2017 version a bit juicier and fruitier, and there will be ten barrels of the younger vintage as the crop level was generous.) According to winemaker Frédéric Barnier, 2017 has more sweetness as a vintage, but while the '17 Chevalier-Montrachet is round, opulent and tasty, the '16 is extremely pure, fresh and linear, and will expand with time in the cellar. But even today it's silky, tactile, edge-free and extremely long.

James Suckling (96)

Very attractive and fresh aromas of wet stones and fine limes with youthful peaches and green mango. The scintillatingly long and powerful palate is pinned in place with bracing acidity and has unwavering length of peaches and citrus fruit. Breathtaking finish. Drink or hold.

Vinous (96-98)

The 2019 Chevalier-Montrachet Demoiselles Grand Cru is beautifully defined on the nose, featuring wonderful crushed limestone and gunflint scents that permeate the green apple aromas. Very focused and intense. The palate is extremely well balanced with a powerful opening, very saline and so full of energy. Enormous weight and presence toward the finish. This is an outstanding Chevalier-Montrachet from Jadot.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

The king of the cellar on the white side of the ledger is the 2020 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru Les Demoiselles (Domaine des Héritiers Jadot), a striking wine that unfurls in the glass with notes of citrus oil, white flowers, buttered popcorn, chalky soil tones, beeswax and spices. Full-bodied, multidimensional and layered, it's muscular and concentrated, with racy acids, an abundance of structuring dry extract and a long, resonant finish. It is worth a special effort to seek out.

Vinous (95-97)

The 2021 Chevalier-Montrachet Demoiselles Grand Cru is a step up from the Bâtard-Montrachet in terms of complexity and mineralité. Yellow plum and pressed flower hints emerge and lend more complexity with time. The palate is well balanced with a crisp line of acidity. This Chevalier gathers momentum towards a detailed, lightly spiced finish with just the right amount of extract. The 2021 has real pedigree.

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.

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.

Burghound (97)

(Don't Miss!) A discreet but not invisible touch of wood sets off the notably more floral-suffused aromas of citrus confit, exotic tea, anise and white peach. The gorgeously textured large-scaled flavors possess outstanding cut and minerality that contrasts with the exceptionally dry, austere and massively long finish. This strikingly pure effort is packed with potential but note well that it's not likely to be a wine that permits early accessibility. In sum, this is a classic Chevalier in the making, but patience will absolutely be required.

Vinous (93-94)

(this was racked off its lees the day before my visit and was slated to be bottled before the 2011 harvest): Slightly cloudy yellow. Aromas of peach, apple, spices and crushed stone, with a hint of noble reduction. At once chewy and smooth, with a distinctly taut quality to its flavors of apricot, minerals, anise and flint. Finishes saline and powerful, with a flavor of custard pie as well as a note of grapefruit pith that tickles the taste buds. Lots of aging potential here.

Wine Advocate (93)

Tasted blind at the annual “Burgfest” tasting in Bouilland. The 2013 Chevalier-Montrachet Clos de Chevalier Grand Cru has a slightly muffled bouquet compared to its peers, needing to muster more precision and mineral expression. The palate is fresh on the entry with a smooth and lightly honeyed texture, vanilla and white chocolate notes from the new oak, perhaps a little too generous for a wine of this standing yet undeniably quite delicious. Tasted May 2016.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2020 Chevalier-Montrachet Clos de Chevaliers Grand Cru totals 6 barrels this year. Wonderful mineralité on the nose here: this is tensile, energetic with a subtle sea cave aroma that gains intensity in the glass. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh with discrete tropical veins towards the harmonious finish, a hint of frangipane on the aftertaste. Superb. Closure: Diam 30

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.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2011 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru was picked on August 25, the earliest harvest in the history of the Domaine Leflaive, and the resulting wine was another of the sleepers in this tasting, unfurling in the glass with an attractive bouquet of white flowers, fresh peach, tangerine, pear, pastry cream and warm bread. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, expansive and satiny textured, with a layered and open-knit core that's fleshy but lively, concluding with a long and precise finish. This is a forward Chevalier from Leflaive that's already drinking well, but it's a superb effort.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2020 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru dominates the range this year, wafting from the glass with notes of waxy citrus zest, white flowers, nutmeg and wet stones, followed by a full-bodied, racy and electric palate, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, seamless mid-palate. Chiseled and concentrated, uniting texture and tension, it concludes with a long, penetrating finish.

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.