M. Chapoutier Saint Joseph Le Clos 2021

Always harvested about week after the Lieu-dit Saint Joseph, the 2021 Saint Joseph Le Clos has a brilliant nose of pure cassis, fresh fig, and almost blue fruits as well as Hermitage-like nuances of flowers, leather, and crushed rock. It's medium-bodied, has terrific concentration, and a more focused, serious feel to its tannins. All destemmed and aged in a mix of barrels and demi-muids (20% new), it's up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and is a classic Saint Joseph in the making. It should also be long-lived.