The Best Wines and Vintages of Saint-Joseph

What are the biggest Saint Joseph red and white wines ? Which vintages are best for buying a wine from this superb appellation in the Rhône Valley ? We have compiled the tasting notes of our caviste and those of leading tasters to obtain a best wines ranking never produced in Saint-Joseph. Discover below the TOP 10 red wines and the TOP 10 white wines of Saint Joseph. This ranking does not take into account the latest vintages of Saint Joseph, which you can buy on our website: Saint joseph 2018 and Saint Joseph 2017.

 

 

Discover all our St Joseph wines in stock

 

GRANDES CUVÉES & BEST ST-JOSEPH VINTAGES

Ranking of the best Saint-Joseph AOC wines according to Robert Parker & The Wine Advocate team. The tasting notes are taken from their website: www.robertparker.com. 

The information and tasting notes associated with each bottle come from tasting translations. This ranking is therefore not an official ranking, but a ranking based solely on the notes consulted on Robert Parker's website.

Many other domains are also highly reputed and should not be overlooked. Here are just a few examples: the Jean-Louis Chave, Domaine Courbis, François VillardDomaine Gonon, Domaine Bernard Gripa, Domaine Jean-Pierre Monier-Perréol, and many others!

Feel free to add your favorite domains to the St-Joseph wines in comments! Please note that our Saint-Joseph wine ranking only highlights the best-rated Saint-Joseph wines.

 

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Classification of the best-rated Saint-Joseph Rouges

Below is the list of red wines from St-Joseph with top marks from The Wine Advocate :

 

• TOP 1: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Le Clos" 2011

97/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on August 28, 2014

"Of style, the achievement of a "genial wine", the Saint Joseph Les Clos 2011 shows that this vineyard is authentic. Crème de cassis, licorice, crushed stone, graphite and pepper reveal themselves in the glass, with a full-bodied palate of depth and breadth, delirious purity and blockbuster length. It may also be the wine of the vintage, and certainly one of the best Saint-Josephs I've ever tasted."

 

• TOP 2: Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph "Le Paradis Saint-Pierre" 2010

97/100 rated by Robert Parker on December 27, 2012

"The 2010 St-Joseph Le Paradis St.-Pierre should be off the charts, and it certainly shouldn't be from this world. Notes of charcoal, graphite, crème de cassis, kirsch liqueur, spring flowers, pen ink and pencil shavings leap from this full-bodied, massive yet incredibly elegant and pure St.-Joseph. Perhaps the greatest wine yet made by Jérôme Coursodon, it's one of the best Saint-Josephs I've ever tasted."

Ideal drinking date: Should age effortlessly for 5-10 years or more. Drink now, or cellar until around 2027.

 

• TOP 3: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Le Clos" 2012

96+/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 30, 2014

"Sexy and flamboyant, the small production of 2012 Saint Joseph le Clos (which comes from a vineyard a few kilometers from Les Granits) is firm, tight and structured, with nervous notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, powdered rocks and ground herbs. Full-bodied, concentrated and rich, it needs 3-4 years in the cellar and will have two decades of longevity. It's almost non-existent on the market, but it's worth looking for."

Ideal drinking date: Drink now, or cellar until around 2032.

 

• TOP 4: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Le Clos" 2015

96/100 rated by Joe Czerwinski on December 29, 2017

"A benchmark for the appellation, the 2015 Saint Joseph le Clos combines detailed nuances of crushed stone, red plum, roasted meat and black olive with massive concentration and powerful tannins. This full-bodied, richly textured wine should blossom by 2025 and drink well for a decade and a half, maybe longer."

Ideal tasting date: 2025-2040

 

• TOP 5: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Le Clos" 2013

96/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 31, 2015

"Darker in color and more opaque than the Granits, Saint Joseph le Clos 2013 boasts a natural alcohol content of 14% and beautiful density and depth in its crème de cassis, embers, wet rock and charcoal-scented bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, full-bodied, concentrated and sensationally pure, with building tannins and a long, elegant, seamless profile, it needs 2-3 years of cellaring and will have two or more decades of longevity."

Ideal drinking date: Now, or until 2038.

 

 

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• TOP 6: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits" 2012

96/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 30, 2014

"Still one of the best wines in the appellation, the 2012 Saint Joseph les Granits is a blockbuster that readers need to grab hold of. I rated this wine 94 points on release, and the wine went screaming after that score. Loaded with decadent cassis, blackberry, ground herbs, violets and leathery aromas and flavors, this beauty is full-bodied, low in acidity and exhilaratingly pure."

Ideal drinking date: It's hard to resist now (and I see no reason to), but it will evolve for 10-15 years. Drink until 2027.

 

• TOP 7: Delas Frère St-Joseph "Cuvée François de Tournon" 2010

96/100 rated by Robert Parker on December 27, 2012

"A remarkable effort that achieved significantly better results than last year. This wine, so tight and difficult to assess last year, is brilliant. A dense purple color is followed by notes of graphite, pen ink, blackberries and blueberries, and hints of raspberries, smoke and subtle oak. This monumental, full-bodied, classic St. Joseph has been fully aged in small barrels. The good news is that 1,500 cases have just hit the market. My instinct suggests that 1-2 years of bottle age will be beneficial and that it will last 15 years or more. Don't miss it!"

Ideal drinking date: Now, or cellar until 2028.

 

• TOP 8: Delas Frère St-Joseph "Sainte-Épine" 2009

96/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on September 14, 2015

"Rounder, riper and sexier than 2010, the 2009 St Joseph Ste Epine is a blockbuster offering sensational notes of black raspberries, licorice, smoked meats, olive and graphite. Aging here was the standard 40-50% new French oak, but it absorbed all traces of oak. This terrific wine is one of the greatest St Josephs I've tasted."

Ideal drinking date: Big, rich, textured and concentrated, with generous tannins, it's slightly approachable now because of its rich fruit, but will get even better with time. Drink now, or cellar until 2034.

 

• TOP 9: Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph "Le Paradis Saint-Pierre" 2009

96/100 rated by Robert Parker on December 23, 2011

"Made only in the best vintages, the top cuvée is the St.-Joseph Le Paradis St.-Pierre 2009. Tasting like the Sensonne on steroids, this is one of the greatest St.-Josephs I've ever tasted. The pulpy perfume smells like a flower garden in full bloom intermingled with blackberry and black raspberry with a touch of graphite. A wine of superb intensity and full-bodied power revealing an astonishing integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol, this Saint-Joseph is made of haute couture and its richness, aromas and flavors are flawless. It's a brilliant achievement by young Jérôme Coursodon. " 

Ideal drinking date: It should age beautifully for two decades or more. Now, or cellar until 2031.

 

• TOP 10: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits" 2006

96/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on August 28, 2014

"The wine of the range (the 2010 could overtake it in a few years), the 2006 Saint Joseph Les Granits is a blockbuster. Coming from a dry, hot vintage (and a very strong vintage in general for this estate), it has impressive depth and concentration to go with the Northern Rhodan fleshiness, minerality, dried spices and black fruits on the nose. Filling the mouth with fruit, it's perfectly balanced, has soft tannins and a finish that won't quit. Given this performance, I wouldn't hesitate to start opening bottles, but it's got at least another decade of drinking in it."

Ideal drinking date: Now, or cellar until 2024.

 

> Saint Joseph wines in the cellar

 

Classification of the best Saint-Joseph Blancs

Here are the Saint-Joseph white wines on The Wine Advocate website:

 

• TOP 1: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits Blanc" 2009

98/100 rated by Robert Parker on December 23, 2011

"The white parcel selections tasted include the St.-Joseph Les Granits Blanc 2009 (789 cases), which may be the "best buy" of all these parcel selections. This 100% Marsanne cuvée has an astonishing honeyed, orange marmalade character mingled with notions of crushed rocks, spring flowers, quince and white currants. Full-bodied and unctuously textured, yet remarkably fresh and lively."

Ideal drinking date: From now until 2031.

 

• TOP 2: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits Blanc" 2015

97/100 rated by Robert Parker on December 30, 2016

"A wine I've always loved, the 2015 St Joseph Les Granits Blanc is, I suspect, the greatest white of this appellation. Made with 100% Marsanne from lieu-dit St Joseph, aged 80% in demi-muids (15% new) and the rest in stainless steel, this sensational white offers plenty of minerality in addition to citrus blossom, buttered hazelnut, toasted bread and orchard fruit notes. It needs a year or two of bottle age, but it's an incredible white. Bravo to the Chapoutier team for this effort..."

Ideal drinking date: Drink now or cellar for a few years to develop. Exact date not known.

 

• TOP 3: Guigal Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit "St-Joseph Blanc" 2015

96/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 30, 2016

"Their second year away from 100% new oak, the 2015 St Joseph "Lieu Dit St Joseph Blanc" is composed entirely of Marsanne and offers an utterly profound bouquet of orange blossom, white flowers, crushed rocks, licorice, white peach and honeysuckle. Full-bodied, rich and layered, yet incredibly pure, this is the best example of this cuvée I've tasted. Bravo!"

Ideal drinking date: Drink now or cellar until 2024.

 

• TOP 4: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits Blanc" 2013

96/100 rated by Robert Parker on December 27, 2012

"A wine I've always loved, the 2015 St Joseph Les Granits Blanc is, I suspect, the greatest white of this appellation. Made with 100% Marsanne from lieu-dit St Joseph, aged 80% in demi-muids (15% new) and the rest in stainless steel, this sensational white offers plenty of minerality in addition to citrus blossom, buttered hazelnut, toasted bread and orchard fruit notes. It needs a year or two of bottle age, but it's an incredible white. Bravo to the Chapoutier team for this effort."

Ideal tasting date: Drink now or cellar for a few years, around 2024.

 

• TOP 5: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits Blanc" 2010

96/100 rated by Robert Parker on December 27, 2012

"With a production of 432 cases, the 2010 Saint-Joseph Les Granits Blanc could be the appellation's best white wine. Aromas of tangerine oil, orange marmalade, powdered stones and subtle flint, as well as smoke leap from the glass of this full-bodied effort. This elegant, rich, complete and stunning wine is a tour de force and a benchmark for what can be achieved from the granite slopes of Saint-Joseph."

Ideal drinking date: Drink now or cellar for a few years. Exact date not known.

 

• TOP 6: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits Blanc" 2006

96/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on February 28, 2017

"The 2006 St Joseph les Granits Blanc is a wine well worth more than its price, and enthusiasts of the northern Rhône should buy this cuvée in almost any vintage. Offering plenty of complexity in its buttery aromas of citrus, apple, white truffle, celery and savory, this beauty is full, rich and textured on the palate. Like the other whites on this team, it drinks perfectly today, but should stay for at least a decade or more. That said, why push a good thing? Drink up!"

Ideal tasting date: Drink now or cellar for a few years, around 2037.

 

• TOP 7: Ferraton Père & Fils Saint-Joseph "Les Oliviers Blanc" 2015

95/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 30, 2016

"St Joseph releases are brilliant in this vintage. The single vineyard St Joseph Les Oliviers Blanc is even better than the rest, with a killer bouquet of buttery citrus, spiced apples, toast and salty minerality. Made from 100% Marsanne from a site just outside the village of Mauves, it shows the concentration and richness of the vintage, yet is fresh, pure and concentrated. I'd drink bottles over the next decade, but it's going to stick around longer."

Ideal tasting date: Drink now or cellar for a few years, 2026.

 

• TOP 8: Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph "Le Paradis Saint-Pierre Blanc" 2014

95/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 30, 2016

"Showing even better than last year (which makes me think I might be underestimating the 2015), the 2014 Saint Joseph La Saint-Jacques offers killer minerality and lovely notes of buttery citrus, powder, white flowers and apple blossom. Rich, full-bodied, layered and beautifully pure, with fabulous freshness and purity. This is one of the stars of the appellation!"

Ideal drinking date: Drink now through 2019.

 

• TOP 9: Guigal St-Joseph "Lieu-Dit St-Joseph Blanc" 2014

95/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 30, 2016

"It's even better than when I tasted it last year, the 2014 St Joseph Lieu Dit St Joseph Blanc (93% Marsanne and 7% Roussanne, aged in new and used barrels 50/50) offers superb notes of quince, currants, brioche and custard in a medium to full-bodied, impeccably balanced and layered style. Showing the inherent freshness and purity of the vintage, but with no shortage of depth, drink it anytime over the next 7-8 years. Of note, this is the first year the cuvée has not been aged in new barrels. Philippe commented that they wanted this cuvée to drink better in its youth, so they backed off slightly on the new oak."

Ideal tasting date: Drink now or cellar for a few years, 2024.

 

• TOP 10: M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph "Les Granits Blanc" 2014

95/100 rated by Jeb Dunnuck on December 31, 2015

"The star white wine of the 2014 vintage in Saint Joseph is Chapoutier's Saint Joseph "les Granits Blanc". From one of the region's finest terroirs, the granitic soils of the lieu-dit Saint Joseph, this 100% Marsanne wine exudes terrific aromas and flavors of buttery citrus, poached pears, honeysuckle, spice and caramelized pineapple. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and textured, yet elegant and silky, it should be a must-have for anyone who loves Northern Rhône whites. " 

Best served within 10-15 years. Drink now or cellar until 2030.

 

> Saint Joseph wines in the cellar

 

Special features of Saint-Joseph

How do you describe a Saint Joseph wine?

First of all, you should know that the winegrowers of the appellation Saint-Joseph aspire to perfection. The vineyard is located on the right bank of the Rhône. The terroirs are mainly based on steep, terraced hillsides. These great Rhône wines are highly reputed, in particular for their grape variety, Syrah. The appellation St Joseph also produces around 10% of white wines based on Roussanne and Marsanne.

Why is the St Joseph so coveted?

Quite simply, wines made from Syrah, such as Saint-JosephThey reveal spicy, peppery, floral and mineral notes. They are blessed with power and finesse. Syrah is often said to reveal notes of violet, and is a very mineral wine. There are around 160 winemakers in the appellation.

 

 Purchase of Saint-Joseph from the estate

Discover our Saint-Joseph wines directly from the producer. Each year, these estates allocate us a small quantity of their precious bottles. Quantities are therefore limited. Enjoy superb, authentic bottles. Preserved quality. Wines that will surprise you. Here are our partner estates in the Saint-Joseph AOC

 

 

DOMAINE FRANÇOIS VILLARD

Visit Domaine François Villard is located in the Vallée-du-Rhône, in Condrieu.

The owner François Villard produces wines mainly AOC Condrieu. Other appellations include Saint-Péray, Saint Joseph, Côte-Rôtie, Vin de Pays, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhonadiennes. 25 ha of vines, over 15 years old. François is passionate about wine and his profession as a winemaker. He's even described as a self-taught winemaker.

► Introducing the domain on the blog ◄

 

 

DOMAINE FERRATON

A superb estate in the Rhône Valley, this winery is today a partnership between the Ferraton family (who launched the estate in 1946) and Maison Michel Chapoutier. The quality of the wines has risen sharply since the 2000s, with numerous AOC cuvées: Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph. Biodynamic viticulture and know-how have made Ferraton bottles so popular with connoisseurs of fine wines.

► Introducing the domain on the blog ◄

 

 

 

DOMAINE COURBIS

Domaine Courbis is located in Châteaubourg, at the southernmost tip of the Saint-Joseph AOC.

Managed by Dominique Courbis, it boasts superb hillside plots.

A renowned Rhône estate: original parcel work, passion, subtle wines.