2019 Rousset Saint Joseph

From a wee .5 hectare parcel neighboring the Gonon’s in Saint Joseph’s steep terraced Mont Chaud sector in Tournon.

The Saint Joseph, from a tiny steep parcel next to one of the Gonon’s parcels on the Tournon hillside, is always riper in black fruits and sexy sexy relative to the structured and cooler Picaudières. I didn’t prefer the overripeness/stewed fruit quality of the 2016 rendition, and said as much….which this year’s does not possess whatsoever, remaining on fresh black fruits. For more immediate appeal and partnering with grilled fare and other such big flavors, this will prove to be a crowd pleasing sexy time kind of wine, whose substance is buried beneath so much fleshiness. On the world stage of $26 bottles of wine, this (like everything here) offers silly good value…..a little * awarded here.

“Saturated ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented cherry, cassis and licorice qualities on the nose, along with suggestions of cracked pepper and cola. Smoky, broad and appealingly sweet, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that spread out slowly through the back half. Shows impressive clarity and spicy cut on a long, smoky finish that leaves a suggestion of allspice behind.” 92 Josh Raynolds for the 2017 (the last vintage he has reviewed), NOT THE 2019 OFFERED HERE