Saint-Joseph Blanc ‘Les Granits’ , Northern Rhone, France, M Chapoutier 2012 

2ha, 100% Marsanne

This wine comes from a small selection of very old Marsanne vines planted on steep granitic slopes in the South of Tournon. The granitic soil also contains stones and gravels. This gives a minerality to the wine, mixed with floral notes of honeysuckle and young lilies. This is a very well-balanced wine with a subtle finish of spices developing into honey with ageing.

100% Marsanne on granite. Low level of sulphur and as late as possible. They keep as much carbon dioxide as possible to protect whites. Lightly honeyed nose. Very broad almost fat palate with considerable gas dissolved in the wine. Even a slightly bitter note of coffee grounds. Not quite as luscious as some other vintages.16/20 Jancis Robinson

"Another blockbuster that savvy readers need to buy up, the 2012 Saint Joseph les Granits Blanc is a drop-dead gorgeous wine that offers up tons of crushed rock-like minerality, stone fruits, white peach and buttered citrus to go with a full-bodied, decadent, yet also elegant and focused style on the palate. Count me a fan, and while it's a great drink now, it will have an easy 15+ years of evolution." 95/100 Jeb Dunnuck robertparker.com