M. Chapoutier : Les Granilites 2015

Opaque ruby. Highly perfumed red/blue fruit, spicecake and floral pastille aromas pick up a smoky mineral accent with air. Fresh blueberry, blackberry and allspice flavors are energized and sharpened by a spine of juicy acidity. Distinctly lively in style, finishing alluringly sweet and quite long; fine-grained tannins make a late appearance.

Next up, the 2015 Saint Joseph Les Granilites comes all from the southern part of the appellation, from parcels around Mauve, Tournon and Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. Aged in equal parts concrete and barrel, it offers clean, classic Syrah notes of black fruits (blackberries, currants) and peppery herbs, medium to full-bodied richness, a silky texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. Drink it through 2027.

Tasted before bottling. A very noble reduction with toasty aromas, a palate with pure fruit, and plenty of elegance and style for a cuvée made partly from purchased grapes.

It shows lovely maturity. The wine delivers beautiful sap and a splendid texture, with a hint of graphite.

The nose is fruity and mineral, offering elegance along with a fine concentration. The wine benefits from decanting. It reveals notes of crushed elderberries, wild raspberries and wild red berries, combined with touches of red flowers, racy minerality, subtle hints of garrigue (rosemary, thyme, etc.), olive, as well as discreet accents of Sichuan pepper and spices. The palate is fruity, juicy, balanced, fleshy and delicate, with lovely roundness and volume, elegance, generosity, precision and a silky feel. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of plump redcurrants, plump cherry and, more lightly, juicy raspberry, joined by small touches of boysenberry, blackcurrant, hints of garrigue, liquorice, vanilla, as well as discreet notes of sweet spices, black olive and a very subtle touch of caramelisation (on the finish). The tannins are supple. Good length. An almost imperceptible hint of ripe almond and coffee lingers on the finish.