The finest white wine of the St.-Joseph appellation is Chapoutier's 100% Marsanne, Les Granits. The 1999 St.-Joseph Les Granits offers a stunning perfume of Grand Marnier, liquid minerals, and acacia flowers. Soft, ripe, and full-bodied, it is an amazing accomplishment. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-89000

This is a single- vineyard wine from the Chapoutier domaine. The fruit was at the extreme limit of maturity when picked, and this shows in the hugely ripe taste, the flavors of soft, juicy pears and the sense of power. There is new wood, but it does not dominate, and the final taste is of a dry, mineral character that suggests good aging potential. ——R.V.(6/1/2002)—— 90