Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Le Clos 2021 Bottle size: 750ml

‘A superb Saint-Joseph, focused, vibrant and pure. It expresses notes of wild berries, dried flowers, raw chocolate, peppercorns, crushed stones and hints of roasted meat. It is medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. There is plenty of energy and drive, with bright acidity. The vertical dimension in this wine is obvious, with a dense and comforting core of berries and a mineral-driven, laser-focused finish with length. Drink or hold.’ – Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com, 95/100

‘The 2021 Saint-Joseph Le Clos comes from an east-facing parcel Michel purchased in the early 1990s at the urging of his grandfather, who told him it produced the finest wine of the appellation before World War II. Planted in the late 1990s, it has yielded a 2021 redolent with scents of menthol, cedar and mixed red and black cherries. Only medium-bodied, it seems less expansive on the palate than the les Granites bottling, but perhaps it's a bit more structured and firmer yet still silky and harmonious. 2024-2035’ – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, 92-94/100

‘Cask sample. A little reductive – dark and brooding. The palate is juicy with firm, but fine, tannins. Very smoky – bonfire and peaty smoke. Beneath, there is pepper, olive and tapenade lurking. Very tight and needs a lot of time to absorb those tannins. 2027-2033.’ – Alistair Cooper MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20