2017 St Joseph Blanc
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Translucent yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of fresh pear, tangerine and white peach are complemented by a jasmine nuance that builds with air. Round and seamless in texture, offering densely packed orchard and pit fruit flavors that are sharpened by a refreshingly bitter lemon pith accent. Finishes smooth, broad and very long, leaving suave floral and mineral notes behind.
Critic scores
Average Score
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Brought up in equal parts barrel and stainless steel, the 2017 Saint Joseph Blanc is another gem from this estate and comes all from the southern part of the appellation. It boasts a big bouquet of melon, honeysuckle, and pineapple, with obvious minerality developing with time in the glass. Medium-bodied, layered, with good acidity and balance, drink it over the coming 3-5 years. The big news at the Guigal estate is the purchase of Domaine de Nalys in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The family has always wanted an estate in the South, and Nalys is an unrealized treasure trove of awesome terroir and old vines, both of which I’ve no doubt will be maximized by this talented family. In addition, the former winemaker at Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Jacques Desvernois, has joined the team, and while it’s not clear exactly what his role will be, I suspect he will largely lead the charge at Domaine de Nalys. Either way, Desvernois is an incredible talent and can only add to what is already a well-oiled machine. As to the wines reviewed in this report, I was able to taste multiple vintages of each of the cuvées and have listed the wines by cuvée as opposed to by vintage, which is how we tasted through the wines.
Sourced from only the southern (granitic) portion of the appellation, the 2017 Saint-Joseph Blanc is medium to full-bodied, with intense, rich flavors of melon and pear focused by citrus notes, hints of pencil shavings and a slightly cool, austere notion of crushed stones that's especially important in elongating the finish. No, it's not quite as good as the Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph bottling, but it's a high-quality Rhône white at a realistic price.
Sourced from only the southern (granitic) portion of the appellation, the 2017 Saint-Joseph Blanc is medium to full-bodied, with intense, rich flavors of melon and pear focused by citrus notes, hints of pencil shavings and a slightly cool, austere notion of crushed stones that's especially important in elongating the finish. No, it's not quite as good as the Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph bottling, but it's a high-quality Rhone white at a realistic price. Oct 2018, www.robertparker.com