Domaine Combier - Saint Joseph 2023
A major reference in the northern Rhône valley, Domaine Combier has been producing pure, juicy, and highly elegant Syrahs for several generations. The family tends their vines with meticulous attention to the soils, yields, and ripeness, in a spirit respectful of life. In Saint Joseph, the estate relies on well-exposed granite hillsides, which give the grape variety a particular energy and a more vertical structure than on the Crozes Hermitage plain. In the cellar, the philosophy remains the same: limited interventions, indigenous yeasts, gentle extractions, and measured oak. The goal is to let the terroir speak, favoring finesse and drinkability rather than a display of power.
Saint Joseph 2023 comes from hillside vines planted on granite and sandy soils, which give the Syrah tension, minerality, and depth. The 2023 vintage, bright yet balanced, allowed for achieving beautiful phenolic ripeness while maintaining clear freshness. The grapes are hand-harvested, carefully sorted, then fermented with a portion of whole clusters to enhance the floral and spicy profile. Fermentations proceed slowly, with measured pump-overs and punch-downs to extract fine and silky tannins. Aging, in vats and several-used barrels, aims to refine the texture without imprinting the wine with new oak, resulting in a precise, slender, and already very approachable Saint Joseph.
On the nose, the wine opens with notes of violet, fresh black fruits, raspberry, and blackberry, accented by black pepper, a touch of olive, and a slight smokiness. On the palate, the attack is juicy and straightforward, with crisp fruit supported by tight yet elegant tannins that structure the wine without hardening it. The mid-palate blends black berries, spices, a hint of licorice, and a fine mineral thread that adds verticality. The finish is long, fresh, and slightly saline, marked by spices, dried herbs, and a return of black fruits, delivering a digestible and refined red. At the table, this 2023 Saint Joseph pairs ideally with roasted poultry, herb-crusted rack of lamb, grilled veal chop, refined bistro cuisine, or vegetarian dishes centered around mushrooms and roasted vegetables.
Grape varieties: 100% Syrah
