2017 St Joseph Les Oliviers Blanc
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Tasting notes
Light, bright yellow. Meyer lemon, pear nectar and jasmine scents show fine definition and pick up suggestions of tarragon and beeswax with air. Lively and precise on the palate, offering pliant citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a deeper suggestion of nectarine that builds on the back half. Shows very good clarity and mineral cut on the strikingly long finish, which leaves a sexy floral note behind.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Like the 2018, Gonon's 2017 Saint Joseph les Oliviers Blanc is an 80-20 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. The varieties are picked on the same dates, but they're pressed and fermented separately, then blended and aged further. The wine is honeyed and rich, full-bodied and creamy textured, with notions of ripe melon and pineapple spiced up with hints of pepper and salted licorice on the long, lush finish.
While everyone chases the reds from this great estate, don’t miss a chance to try their white. Coming from a single vineyard just outside the estate in Mauves, the 2017 Saint Joseph Les Oliviers boasts Hermitage-like notes of buttered citrus, flower oil, toasted almonds, and crushed rocks. It’s the richest, most opulent white I’ve tasted from this estate, and it’s also my favorite. It’s a brilliant wine!
Cask sample. Nutty, honeyed, thick yet freshened by a line of acid that gives excellent crispness. Quite light fruit, but spot-on typicality (apricot, orange blossom). Moderate length. (RH)