100% Syrah

"Coming from an incredible vineyard located just above the village of Tournon (which Marcel states matter of factly is the best terroir in the appellation), the 2019 Saint Joseph Vignes De L'Hospice reveals a deeper purple hue as well as an Hermitage-like style in both its aromatics as well as its structure. This makes sense, as the soils are basically identical. Blueberries, blackberries, burning embers, leather, and violets are just some of its nuances, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a deep, concentrated mid-palate, wonderful tannins, and a great finish. Where the other Saint-Josephs show the ripe, sunny style of the vintage, this, as always, remains much more cool-climate like, focused, and almost austere. Aged 30 months in new barrels, it's a candidate for the wine of the vintage and will have 30 years of longevity." -Jeb Dunnuck

"Perennially among the best bottlings from the appellation, the 2019 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l'Hospice looks set to rival the tremendous effort bottled in 2015. Enticing scents of crushed stone, pencil shavings and cassis appear on the nose (it ages in 100% new oak), and while this full-bodied wine packs plenty of power, it also shows characteristic granite-derived restraint, delivering a tense balance between ripeness and structure. It should be a beauty, but give it time, as the tannins are prominent at this early stage of its evolution." -Wine Advocate