Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Le Clos 2020 Bottle size: 750ml

‘It's always fun to taste the Les Granits next to the Le Clos, as the wines are dramatically different. The 2020 Saint Joseph Le Clos comes from a higher elevation, more east-facing site, and the alcohol is always a touch lower here, checking in at 13.6%, with the Les Granits being 14.1%. Closed and tight aromatically, it slowly offers up pure cassis, mulberry, and scorched earth-like aromatics, and I always find a Hermitage-like regalness in this wine. Full-bodied, pure, utterly seamless, concentrated, and with a great finish, this is as classy and refined as Saint Joseph gets. Hide bottles for 4-5 years if you can and enjoy over the following two decades. It's one of the greatest Saint Josephs out there.’ – Jeb Dunnuck, 98+/100

‘Glass-staining ruby. Potent kirsch, blackcurrant, olive and licorice qualities on the highly perfumed, spice- and mineral-accented nose. Stains the palate with alluringly sweet black and blue fruit liqueur, spicecake and violet pastille flavors that are underscored by a vein of smoky minerality. Shows outstanding finesse for its power and structure and finishes very long and smoky with building tannins adding framework and closing grip.’ – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 94-96/100

‘Dense black fruit overlaid with violets - very much in the Mauves style of Saint-Joseph. Peppery and spicy. Full-bodied without heaviness, this feels dense but not overly thick. Tannins are chalky but melting, like 100% pure cocoa. The oak is a little more pronounced than with Les Granits, but it's well integrated. Lifted finish. There's intense concentration and deep, dark tannins, but it's all very well balanced. May prove to be the vintage yet of Le Clos. 2027-2035’ – Matt Walls, Decanter, 95/100

‘The 2020 Saint-Joseph Le Clos, from an east-facing parcel planted in the late 1990s, shows little in the way of herbal or floral nuances, but it does deliver waves of black cherries and vanilla. Full-bodied and silky textured on the mid-palate, it's a bit tannic and drying but ripe and long on the finish. 2023 – 2035.' – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, 92-94/100