2019 St Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes
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Tasting notes
Deep ruby. Displays energetic aromas of dark berry and cherry preserves, olive and cracked pepper, with a smoky nuance in the background. Fleshy and expansive on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, boysenberry and allspice flavors with a hint of candied flowers. Finishes seamless and long, with an echo of florality and building tannins that add shape and discreet grip. 20% new oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Saint Joseph La Croix Des Vignes is a classic Saint Joseph that comes from vines just behind the village of Tournon. It has good density and depth as well as some classic Saint Joseph rusticity in its darker black fruits, graphite, earth, and peppery herb aromas and flavors. It should keep for a decade. While the wheels haven’t come completely off at this estate, there’s a significant drop in terms of quality starting with the 2019s and continuing with the 2020s. Whether this is simply COVID related or indicative of a larger issue is yet to be determined. To be sure, the wines are still well-made, but to have access to some of the greatest terroirs in the world and to be producing mid-weight, lean wines is disappointing to say the least.
A bit of a sleeper in the Jaboulet portfolio, the 2019 Saint Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is a top-flight effort, boasting hints of graham crackers, blueberries, cassis and mocha. It's full-bodied, rich and atypically concentrated, with a long, velvety finish that delivers immense pleasure.
Deep-pitched dark fruit, floral and licorice aromas pick up a smoky mineral aspect and subtle olive and spicy white pepper flourishes with air. Coats the palate with ripe cherry, black currant and bitter chocolate flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. In a brawny style, finishing broad and long, with repeating smokiness, chewy tannins and a resonating cherry note.