Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninmedium
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 5 to 15 years from vintage.

vintage5 yrs15 yrs17 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong, Peppery And Mineral finish

What it pairs with

  • Grilled lamb cutlets with herbs The wine's violet, pepper, and mineral character perfectly complement herb-marinated lamb.More wines for lamb →
  • Pan-roasted pigeon Silky tannins and wild fruit pair beautifully with roasted pigeon.More wines for game →
  • Lentils with smoked sausage Earthy lentils and smoked pork echo the wine's mineral and pepper register.More wines for sausages →

With cheese

Saint-Marcellin Our pick Saint-Joseph rouge is northern Rhône Syrah with bright acidity and light to firm tannin. The acidity cuts the cream of a Saint-Marcellin; choose a riper, older cheese for the firmer bottles, as its mushroom notes and denser paste stand up to the tannin.

How to serve Saint-Joseph Rouge

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. 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.

  1. 1970Gerard Chave begins separate bottling of Saint-Joseph from the Mauves parcels

Facts

Producer
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave · visiting guide
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.

Tags

biodynamic dry high acid iconic medium body medium tannin medium term mood elegant mood savoury occasion cellar occasion dinner party old vines old world organic pairs with charcuterie pairs with game pairs with red meat price premium still red syrah

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