Saint-Joseph

Few appellations can boast of being mentioned in Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables"... but Saint-Joseph can! This has contributed to its renown, with elegant red and white wines made from various grape varieties such as Roussanne, Marsanne, Shiraz, Bergeron, and Syrah. The AOC covers 1,100 hectares, encompassing 23 communes in the Ardèche and 3 in the Loire, following the Rhône River in a long, narrow stretch, resulting in a rather unique diversity of soils (schist, granite, soft gneiss, etc.), on hillsides with some sections in the foothills or on the plains. The red wines have a ruby-red color, developing orange highlights with age. The white wines begin with emerald highlights on a pale yellow base, evolving towards gold. On the nose, the red wines of Saint-Joseph are distinguished by a pronounced note of blackcurrant and aromas of fresh fruit that give way to cooked fruit after a few years. The white wines, on the other hand, have notes of hawthorn that, with time, develop spice. On the palate, the tannins of the reds are fine, and sweetness predominates with aromas of violets and red berries. The white, with its intense bouquet, maintains a beautiful balance of acidity, freshness, and mellowness; this latter characteristic becomes more pronounced with age. Regarding food and wine pairings, the white wines pair perfectly with smoked fish, while the reds are best suited to grilled meats such as ribeye steak or lamb.