2001 St Joseph Les Roches Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
Bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black raspberry, spicecake, gunflint, cola and oak. Juicy and tightly wound, with black raspberry and cherry flavors complicated by pepper, bitter chocolate and espresso. A modern-style Saint-Joseph that's a bit dominated by its oak element today. May be better than it's showing now.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The alluring 2001 St.-Joseph Les Roches Vieilles Vignes possesses high acidity as well as tangy black currant, cherry, and strawberry fruit, and a minerality generally more noticeable in white than red St.-Josephs. With medium body and a tart finish (which should soften with time), it will drink well for 7-8 years. While the gifted Michel Tardieu has fashioned dense, powerful, backward 2001s, the quality is well behind that of such recent years as 1999, 1998, and 1997. Nevertheless, there are some strong offerings, particularly the two Cornas cuvees. Importers: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808 and Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0039
(the alcohol is a moderate 12.7%) Bright medium ruby. Captivating nose combines dark fruits, roasted herbs, gunflint, minerals and cinders. Densely packed but still a bit youthfully austere, with lovely acidity framing the mineral and woodsmoke flavors. Strong roasted, smoky notes. This is just at the end of its secondary fermentation. Compared to this wine, the 2000 version is more supple but also more facile.