2022 St Peray Les Tanneurs

The 2022 Saint-Péray Les Tanneurs is another fresher, focused, straight-up pretty wine from this team that lacks some texture and concentration. White flowers, orange blossom, and a kiss of salty minerality all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, bright acidity, and a clean, dry, classy finish. Give it a year and it will hopefully put on weight, and it should evolve through 2032. This was another fabulous tasting with Michel Chapoutier and his team, and it continues to be one of the highlight tastings I do in a year. The portfolio is massive, so there’s certainly something in here for everyone. Looking at the 2021s, I was able to retaste a handful of the flagship whites, and these appear to have shut down slightly. I wouldn’t touch bottles for another 3-5 years. The reds are leaner and focused, but balanced, and certainly impeccably made. However, the 2022s continue to trend here, starting around 2017 or 2018, toward fresher, lighter wines, both with the reds and whites. In addition, they’re all experimenting with whole cluster fermentations, which works beautifully in the wines I was able to taste.