France — wine
Saint-Joseph
Longest Northern Rhône appellation, 60km along the west bank. Both reds (Syrah) and whites (Marsanne/Roussanne). Quality varies widely — best parcels are on granite adjacent to Hermitage. Top producers (Chave, Gonon) make serious, affordable wines — the BC entry point for Northern Rhône style.
Benchmark products
Vintage assessments
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | Very good Northern Rhône year; aromatic Syrah with violet and pepper character well expressed |
| 2022 | 86 | Good warm vintage. Dense Saint-Joseph rouge. White (Marsanne) rich and generous. |
| 2021 | — | Cooler, elegant year; perfumed lighter-bodied Syrah with good acidity and varietal typicity |
| 2020 | — | Fine vintage with good ripeness and classic Northern Rhône Syrah complexity |
| 2019 | 87 | Good. Reliable quality. Good value Northern Rhône Syrah accessible earlier than its grand neighbours. |
| 2018 | 88 | Very good. Classic Syrah-Marsanne combo. Red and white both delivering in the appellation. |
| 2017 | 90 | Excellent Saint-Joseph. The most accessible Northern Rhône appellation delivering value with Côte-Rôtie-like quality in this year. |