E. Guigal : Saint-Joseph 2019

A bit more mineral than the Crozes-Hermitage, the Marsanne-dominant 2019 Saint-Joseph Blanc comes exclusively from the southern portion of the appellation, around Sarras and Tournon. Scents of crushed stone and pencil shavings (half was matured in tank, one-fourth in new oak and one-fourth in second-fill oak) accent notes of underripe peach and citrus on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is crisp, linear and long on the finish.

A fresh version, with bright yellow plum, green almond and white peach flavors backed by notes of lemon shortbread and quinine on the plump finish. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2026. 100 cases imported.

Pretty apple blossom, spice, and sappy flower notes dominate the bouquet of the 2019 Saint Joseph Blanc. This carries to a more medium-bodied, elegant white that offers a solid sense of minerality, good mid-palate depth and concentration, notable balance, and a great finish. It's a beautiful Saint Joseph white to drink over the coming decade.

The nose is racy and offers elegance, a touch of crunch, fine complexity, and a hint of freshness. It reveals notes of pear, quince and, more slightly, mandarin, combined with small touches of kumquat, peach blossom, nectarine, discreet hints of verbena, subtle background hints of sage, and almond. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, freshness, roundness, lovely fine grain, delicacy, a fine acidic backbone, elegance, a refined, racy minerality, a slight aerial character in the approach/balance, as well as a subtle spherical and melodious side. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of quince, pulpy apricot and, more slightly, crushed mirabelle, combined with touches of crushed brugnon, fresh/pulpy apple, as well as hints of quenette (Spanish lime), peach blossom, racy minerality, verbena, and a subtle sense of place (local biotope). Good length. Score: 17/20

The wine shows lovely generosity on the palate, yet remains balanced by a fine saline tension. Attractive bitterness on the finish.