Saint Joseph Rouge Les Granits, M Chapoutier, Northern Rhone, France 2015 

100% Syrah in oak for 18 months. 

In Saint Joseph, as in Hermitage, elevated soils of high granite composition give both Syrah and Marsanne a unique style in an otherwise more simple, broad appellation. The hill above Tournon, the village across the Rhône from Tain, is almost as steep as Hermitage itself, though not so south-facing. Consequently, the vines are very poor yielding, and the wines are able to express place more clearly than the average wine of the appellation. Small plots of 2.4 and 2.3 hectares of 60-80 year old vines of Syrah and 60+ year old vines of Marsanne yield 400 and 900 cases respectively of each of the Les Granits Rouge and Blanc. 

"The full-bodied 2015 Saint Joseph les Granits is among the top wines of the appellation. Bursting with cassis, mocha and spice, it boasts a rich, creamy texture on the mid-palate, easing into a velvety finish backed by plentiful, powerful tannins. This may seem almost approachable, but patience will be rewarded." 95+/100 Joe Czerwinski robertparker.com