Coming from the lieu-dit Saint-Joseph in Tournon, the 2021 Saint-Joseph Les Granits combines scents of ripe cherries and crushed stone on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it's plump, ripe, succulent, silky and long, with less of an acid tang on the finish than Chapoutier's other 2021 Saint-Joseph bottlings. No matter how much time one spends with Michel Chapoutier, he always manages to say something surprising. As an owner of biodynamically farmed properties in the Rhône, a participant in several joint ventures, a proprietor in numerous wine regions, owner of a large négociant business and a former president of Inter Rhône (the region's trade body), he has a global perspective that's probably unmatched in the Rhône.(JC)

The 2021 Saint-Joseph Les Granits shines brightly in this challenging vintage. Crushed violets, cedar, black cherry and ferrous elements rise up from the glass. Touching the palate with good energy and concentration, the 2021 is a distinctively savory Les Granits with plenty of character.(NG)