2018 St Joseph
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Cut from the same cloth as the 2019, the 2018 Saint Joseph is a dark, powerful, medium to full-bodied effort that has the sunny, ripe style of the vintage balanced beautifully by purity and freshness. Violets, spring flowers, bay leaf, and pepper-laced darker berry fruits give way to a polished, seamless Saint Joseph with terrific tannins and a great mid-palate. Both the 2018 and 2019 are terrific wines, with the 2019 showing just a touch more structure.
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
More floral and red fruited than the 2019, Gonon's 2018 Saint Joseph is a medium to full-bodied effort that will please fans of this exemplary estate. Cherries and raspberries are joined by hints of violets and mint on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is starting to close down just a bit and show firm but ripe and silky tannins on the long, mouthwatering finish. Try to avoid opening a bottle for another few years, as the first flattering flush of youth is fast giving way to sullen adolescence.
Deep violet. Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented aromas of red and blue fruit preserves, licorice, exotic spices and potpourri, along with an exotic suggestion of incense. Stains the palate with concentrated black raspberry, cassis, bitter cherry and fruitcake flavors that are given spicy lift by a suggestion of white pepper. A violet pastille nuance emerges with aeration and carries through an extremely long, youthfully tannic finish that shows outstanding definition and mineral thrust. (JR)
80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne. Tank sample. Peach, lemon, tight acid which gives lovely zest on the finish. Gentle and charming with cereal notes on the length. (RH)