A serious wine, the 2010 St.-Joseph Esprit de Granite possesses some new oak as well as plenty of minerality, acidity and tannin. This full-bodied, powerful, muscular St.-Joseph needs 1-2 years of bottle age, and should keep for 10-12+ years.
This cooperative located on the outskirts of the village of Tain l’Hermitage is one of France’s finest coops, producing some of the Northern Rhone’s most astonishing wines. They are reviewed below in the order in which I tasted them. I was knocked-out by the quality of their two cuvees of 2010 Hermitage. The Crozes-Hermitage selections are very strong in 2010 and above average to good in 2011. The 2010s rachet up the level of richness and intensity. The St.-Joseph cuvees are all strong efforts.
No known American importer.