Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Saint Joseph Rouge Guigal 2022 (750ML)

Founded by Etienne Guigal in 1946 and run today by his son Marcel and grandson Philippe, Guigal makes two principal Saint Josephs, and this one comes from the Lieu-Dit Saint Joseph, a warmer, south-facing site that yields the more open, generous of the pair. It is 100% Syrah, aged 24 months in French oak, half of it new; since 2020 the family has shifted to tighter-grained Chassin barrels to lighten the wood’s imprint. Marcel Guigal likens 2022 to 1982, a year of sunny ripeness that stopped short of excess and left plenty of tannin. Violets lead into blackberry, blueberry and red currant, then game, pepper and baking spice. It is full-bodied and plush, the oak already well absorbed. Critics see it drinking from now through 2040. Serve it with venison loin, rosemary lamb chops, cassoulet or aged Cantal.