2012 St Joseph Les Granits
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Tasting notes
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.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Always one of the top wines in the appellation, the 2012 Saint Joseph les Granits is a blockbuster that needs to be snatched up by readers. I rated this 94 points on release, and it went screaming past that rating on this showing. Loaded with decadent cassis, blackberry, ground herbs, violets and leather-laced aromas and flavors, this beauty is full-bodied, low in acidity and has thrilling purity. It's hard to resist now (and I see no reason to either), but it will evolve for 10-15 years.
Vivid purple. Fresh dark berries, pungent flowers and Asian spices on the highly perfumed nose. Silky and appealingly sweet, offering spicy black raspberry and cherry compote flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to the long spice- and smoke-tinged finish, with the cherry note echoing.
More granite. South facing. Rich and sweet and much more fluid and more welcoming than Les Varonniers. Very easy to love, although there is agreeable freshness on the finish so it is not just about sweet flattering fruit. (JR)