In the glass
What it pairs with
-
Grilled lamb cutlets with herbs
The wine's violet, pepper, and mineral character perfectly complement herb-marinated lamb. -
Pan-roasted pigeon
Silky tannins and wild fruit pair beautifully with roasted pigeon. -
Lentils with smoked sausage
Earthy lentils and smoked pork echo the wine's mineral and pepper register.
How to serve Saint-Joseph Rouge
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Grilled lamb cutlets with herbs, Pan-roasted pigeon, Lentils with smoked sausage. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Chave family's Saint-Joseph comes from parcels in Mauves, part of the historical heartland of the appellation. Minimal intervention and older oak preserve the pure granite-terroir expression.
- 1970 — Gerard Chave begins separate bottling of Saint-Joseph from the Mauves parcels
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
- Grapes
- Syrah (100%)
- Classification
- Saint-Joseph AOC
- Oak
- 12-18 months in older French oak foudres
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 45-70 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1970
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ECOCERT
Frequently asked about Saint-Joseph Rouge
What does Saint-Joseph Rouge taste like?
Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long, peppery and mineral finish.
When should I drink Saint-Joseph Rouge?
Drink 5-15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Saint-Joseph Rouge?
Grilled lamb cutlets with herbs is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Pan-roasted pigeon and Lentils with smoked sausage. The wine's violet, pepper, and mineral character perfectly complement herb-marinated lamb.
What grapes are in Saint-Joseph Rouge?
The blend is Syrah (100%). The wine is classified as Saint-Joseph AOC.