Brilliant ruby. Heady, intensely perfumed aromas of red and dark fruit preserves, smoky minerals and Asian spices, with a zesty mineral overtone gaining power with air. Rich, dense and focused, offering intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that are lifted and sharpened by juicy acidity. Finishes with excellent power and persistence, the sweet and harmonious tannins folding smoothly into the wine's juicy, pure fruit. This is yet another example of a Saint-Joseph that compares favorably to many, if not most, examples of Hermitage.

The 2012 St.-Joseph Les Granits is gorgeous. Medium to full-bodied and already supple, even sexy, with loads of sweet blackberry, black raspberry, olive and cured meat-like aromas and flavors, it has solid concentration, fine tannin and a great finish. Enjoy it over the coming decade or more. This was an incredible tasting with Michel Chapoutier and his second hand man, Pierre-Henri Morel. Certainly one of the success stories in wine, which Robert Parker does a fabulous job of detailing in Issue 204, this estate goes from strength to strength in just about every appellation in the Rhone Valley. Looking specifically at Hermitage, Chapoutier owns a massive 64 acres, mostly on the famed Bessards lieu-dit, yet also with significant portions on Le Meal, L’Ermite and Les Greffieux, with smaller portions in the Beaume and Murets lieux-dits. From this he fashions five reds (Monier De La Sizeranne, Les Greffieux, Le Meal, Le Pavillon and L’Ermite) and four whites (Chante Alouette, Cuvee de l’Oree, Le Meal Blanc and L’Ermite Blanc), all of which are brilliant wines, with the best ranking up alongside the top wines in the world. In addition, his Saint Josephs (Les Granits and Le Clos) are some of the leading wines of the appellation (along with Guigal’s Vignes de l’Hospice and a few others), and his Cote Rotie La Mordoree, which comes from his 12 acres (split between the roughly defined Cote Blonde and Cote Brune regions), is always a classic example of the appellation. I was also able to taste through a full lineup of his Languedoc and Roussillon releases, all of which were impressive. I’ll review those wines in my 2014 coverage on those regions. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Wine Advocate December, 2013

The 2012 St.-Joseph Les Granits is gorgeous. Medium to full-bodied and already supple, even sexy, with loads of sweet blackberry, black raspberry, olive and cured meat-like aromas and flavors, it has solid concentration, fine tannin and a great finish. Enjoy it over the coming decade or more.