M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Le Clos Rouge 2015
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Dark, garnet black with purple highlights throughout. The nose is lovely with notes of dark cherry and blackberry and beautiful minerality with graphite notes. The palate is soft, rich and elegant on entry with very fine, silky tannins. A long-lingering finish and aromatic notes are reminiscent of the granite terroir.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Screaming "Granite!" at the top of its lungs, the 2015 Saint Joseph Le Clos comes from an east-facing parcel located high up on the west side of the Rhône River. Inky colored and packed with notions of blackberries, cassis, crushed rocks, graphite and violets, it’s full-bodied, perfectly balanced, elegant and seamless. With an iron fist in a velvet glove-like character, this heavenly 2015 might just be the best wine ever to come from this appellation. There’s not much of it, but don’t miss a chance to try this wine!
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A reference point 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 come into its own by 2025 and then drink well for a decade and a half, maybe longer.
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Wine Spectator
A dark, brooding version, with intense steeped fig, blackberry and plum notes that are rolled in warm tar and roasted mesquite accents. The broad and fleshy finish features lots of brambly grip. A very muscular version, in need of cellaring. Best from 2020 through 2030.
Other Vintages
2018-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
No name is more closely associated with the greatness of the Rhone valley than Chapoutier.
The history of the Chapoutier family stretches back to the early nineteenth century when current owner Michel Chapoutier's great-, great-, great-grandfather Marius purchased an estate and some vineyards in the now famous village of Tain l'Hermitage in the Northern Rhône Valley. Marius Chapoutier made history in the region when he became the first grape grower there to vinify his own fruit. Marius had tasted wines other winemakers produced using his fruit and he realized that something was lost in translation, so to speak. He knew that he owned some of the best growing sites in the appellation and he believed — rightly — that the grapes grown in his vineyards could produce long-lived world-class wines. In a move unusual at the time, he decided that he should make the wine himself. Not only did the quality of the wines increase greatly, but this move provided the capital to expand the Chapoutiers’ already legendary estate.
A visionary and pioneer in biodynamic winemaking, his restless energy and unconditional commitment to quality have produced tremendous success, with the most 90+ point ratings of all Rhône producers and 16 "100 point" rated wines.
Sothis Gin is distilled from grapes and plants grown near the vineyards. This family domaine is cultivated using biodynamic practices in which plants play a central role. In their wild state they offer M. Chapoutier a better understanding of the soils. When used in vine treatments they help to nourish plant life and support plant growth. They have selected a few of these plants in order to offer a new perspective of their terroirs, the story of a gin originating from the Tain l’Hermitage vineyards and their floral heritage. They have been honing this recipe for many months under the watchful eye of Sothis, the star and also the ancient Goddess who teaches us that cultivating the land is a means of moving closer to the stars.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Spanning the longest stretch of river in the northern Rhône—from Condrieu in the north, to Cornas in the south—the heart of St.-Joseph lies directly across the Rhône River from Hermitage. While its soils are basically the same as Hermitage: granite, supplemented by sand and gravel, its east facing slope receives less sunlight than Hermitage, which causes less overall berry ripening on its Syrah vines. However, some of the best of them can rival any fine expression of Hermitage, Cote-Rotie or Cornas with concentrated black fruits, dark spices, crushed rock and violets. A general advantage of the region is that its Syrahs typically don’t need as much time in the bottle compared to a Cote-Rotie or Hermitage and are much easier on the bank account!
A textbook St.-Joseph red is firm with a core of minerality that is enhanced by savory and peppery qualities. Aromas and flavors of smoke, olives, herbs, and violets are common; its wines are dense in red and black fruit.
St.-Joseph is also a source of fine northern Rhône white wine. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne grow well here and can be blended or made into single varietal wines. St.-Joseph whites are full and silky with citrus, pear and pineapple flavors and a rich bouquet reminiscent of honeysuckle, toasted nuts, spice and caramel.