Domaine Jolivet - Saint Joseph 'L'Instinct' 2020 (750ml)
Price: $53.99
| Producer | Domaine Jolivet |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhône Valley |
| Varietal | Syrah |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 204685 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Domaine Jolivet Description
Latest discovery from Saint-Joseph comes from the talented hand of young Bastien Jolivet, working his family’s vineyards in the hamlet of Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. Saint-Joseph fans will know this as prime country, just north of the birthplace of the appellation in Mauves, and the site of Raymond Trollat’s old vineyard that formed the back-bone of his wines for years and now those of the Gonon brothers.
Bastien inherited the family domaine in 2014 from his father, who sold the grapes from their five hectares to the local cooperative in Tain. But Bastien set his sights higher, eager to turn the family’s holdings into domaine-bottled, terroir-driven Saint-Joseph. In only his first decade running the winery, Bastien expanded the property to 13 hectares in total, which he works organically.
The winery sits at the base of a very steep and terraced hillside where many of his Saint-Joseph vines sit. Within the lieux-dits Les Blaches and Palet, he farms four hectares on the slope and an additional three and a half of old vines at the bottom of the hill.
L’Instinct refers to the “instinct” required and the intuition needed for a vigneron to adapt to each vintage.
Tasting Note: Initial nose of spices and violets, fine, silky tannins on a beautiful tannic structure with lovely balance. A racy, elegant wine.
Wine Pairing: Red meat or game.
Vinous: 94 Points
Saturated violet color. Highly perfumed red and blue fruit preserve, potpourri and olive aromas are sharpened by cracked pepper and smoky mineral nuances. Sappy, appealingly sweet and precise on the palate, offering energetic blueberry, cherry-cola and candied violet flavors that show impressive depth and become spicier with air. Finishes smoky, smooth and impressively long, with lingering spiciness and gentle, slow-building tannins that lend final grip.
