Lieu-Dit Paradis Saint Joseph

Jeb Dunnuck, Dec/2022

2021 -

"There are three Saint Josephs from this estate. Looking first at the 2021 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Paradis, it comes from pure granite soils and was completely destemmed. Cassis, violets, graphite, and a huge sense of minerality define this puppy, and it's medium-bodied, has a focused, straight, almost austere mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It might be one of the few 2021 that demands some bottle age."

Jeb Dunnuck, Dec/2022

2020 -

"Lots of violets, cool blue fruits, and ground pepper emerge from the 2020 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Paradis, which has a wonderful sense of freshness and purity, although it's clearly from a ripe vintage. Medium to full-bodied, textured, and balanced on the palate, it's a no-brainer, impeccably made Saint Joseph that will keep for 10-15 years. This was brought up in just 15% new wood."

Jeb Dunnuck, Feb/2022

2020 -

"Cassis, ground pepper, liquid violet, and some meaty notes emerge from the 2020 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis, another impressive Saint Joseph from this Hermitage-based estate. As with all the 2020 barrel samples here, it shines for its purity and freshness, while still bringing ample concentration. It should be a great value, although quantities are tiny."

Jeb Dunnuck, Aug/2022

2019 -

"The 2019 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis is a meatier, spicier (almost nutty) Saint Joseph revealing beautiful red and black fruits, notes of dried flowers, leather, and savory herbs, medium to full-bodied richness, supple tannins, and a great mouthfeel. This complex, exotic, nuanced beauty already offers pleasure yet will evolve for 10-12 years if you're so inclined."

Jeb Dunnuck, Mar/2021

2019 -

"Smoky red and black fruits, ground pepper, candied violets, and a touch of chocolate all emerge from the 2019 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis, a rich, full-bodied Saint Joseph offering sweet tannins and a big, expansive mouthfeel. It's loaded with fruit yet stays balanced and lively and has a big finish."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jan/2022

2019 -

"The 2019 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis comes from a parcel of vines in Mauves, with soils of red clay, decomposed granite and loess. It's a bit smoky on the nose, with scents of crushed stone complementing super ripe cassis and blackberry notes. Full-bodied, rich and velvety—like pretty much all of the 2019 reds from Ferraton—it finishes long and slightly chewy."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Dec/2022

2019 -

"Inky ruby. Displays ripe dark fruit, licorice, olive and cracked pepper on the nose, along with a smoky mineral nuance that adds energetic lift. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black and blue fruit and salty olive flavors that show very good depth as well as energy. Closes long and precise, with a suave floral quality and chewy, slowly building tannins."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Apr/2020

2018 -

"Bright purple. An expansive bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, peony and smoky bacon, along with suggestions of olive, licorice and dark chocolate. Deeply concentrated, smoke-accented blackberry liqueur and bitter cherry flavors show excellent delineation and a touch of back-end spiciness. Finishes broad and spicy, with building tannins and a strongly persistent floral note. There's a quite high pH of 4.0 here. The fruit is grown in Mauves, which is all granite-based soils. 15% new oak."

Jeb Dunnuck, Dec/2019

2018 -

"Beautiful graphite, cassis, new leather, and spicy notes emerge from the 2018 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis. It's medium to full-bodied, has beautiful depth of fruit, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It has all the right components, terrific balance, and enough underlying structure to warrant 2-4 years of bottle age."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Feb/2015

2018 -

"Glass-staining ruby. Deeply pitched cherry and blackberry aromas, with hints of singed plum, woodsmoke and licorice in the background. Shows brighter red fruits on the palate, with a floral pastille note building in the glass. Closes with very good energy, grip and breadth, leaving bitter cherry and violet pastille notes behind."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Apr/2020

2017 -

"Inky violet. Smoke-accented dark berries, cherry, candied flowers and spicecake on the energetic nose. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering fresh blackberry, bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors that are brightened by a zesty mineral quality. Shows impressive depth but comes off lively in character. Fine-grained tannins build on an impressively long, floral-accented finish that leaves a salty olive note behind. 15% whole clusters and 15% new oak."

Jeb Dunnuck, Dec/2018

2017 -

"From a terroir just outside of Mauve (Jerome Coursodon’s flagship Saint Joseph comes from this site), the 2017 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Paradis is 100% Syrah brought up in 15% new barrels. It's one of the more intense, serious wines in the lineup and has sensational notes of creme de cassis, black raspberries, crushed violets, crushed rocks and incense, with some white pepper thrown in for good measure. It shows the more supple, sexy style of the vintage on the palate, is full-bodied, silky, and downright seamless, with some background oak to integrate."

Jeb Dunnuck, Dec/2019

2017 -

"The 2017 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis comes from a great, granitic terroir in the southern part of the appellation and was brought up in 10% new French oak. It has a kiss of barrique as well as terrific notes of blackberries, mulberries, ground pepper, graphite, and rare meat. Nicely textured and balanced, with enough tannins to warrant short-term cellaring, it will keep for 10-15 years."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Apr/2020

2017 -

"Opaque violet color. Energetic, finely etched blackberry, cherry and floral scents are accented by spice and mineral topnotes. Concentrated black/blue fruit and spicecake flavors show sharp detail and vivacity thanks to a core of smoky minerality. Finishes impressively long and smooth, with dark berry and floral qualities, sneaky tannins and bright, mineral-driven persistence. (sourced from the granitic soils of Mauves; 15% new oak)"

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Apr/2020

2017 -

"Opaque violet color. Energetic, finely etched blackberry, cherry and floral scents are accented by spice and mineral topnotes. Concentrated black/blue fruit and spicecake flavors show sharp detail and vivacity thanks to a core of smoky minerality. Finishes impressively long and smooth, with dark berry and floral qualities, sneaky tannins and bright, mineral-driven persistence. (sourced from the granitic soils of Mauves; 15% new oak)"

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Oct/2018

2017 -

"Scintillating aromas of violets, licorice and black cherries emerge from the 2017 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis. Located in the commune of Mauves, this lieu-dit features loess soils at the top, granitic soils through the mid-slope and sedimentary soils at the bottom. It's full-bodied, with a rich, supple mouthfeel and a long, velvety finish. A terrific effort."

Wine Spectator, Nov/2018

2016 -

"This has layers of warm cherry, plum and raspberry compote forming the core, while apple wood, black tea and iron notes run underneath. The finish has a fresh and racy edge, leaving a mouthwatering feel despite the heft. Best from 2020 through 2030. 140 cases made."

Jeb Dunnuck, Dec/2018

2016 -

"Another wine that has a smokin' good bouquet is the 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Paradis. The Paradis Lieu-Dit is located just outside of Mauve and is a mix of granite, loess and alluvial soils. Cassis, blackcurrants, crushed rocks, peppery herbs and earth all give way to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured yet still elegant Saint Joseph. It shows the vintage's forward, charming style, yet will be at its best with short-term cellaring."

Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Dec/2017

2016 -

“There will be only about 2,000 bottles of the 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis, from a vineyard near Mauves. It offers black cherry and blackberry fruit; a ripe, creamy mid-palate; and a long, firm finish. Drink this medium to full-bodied wine over the next decade or so.”

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Oct/2018

2016 -

"Perhaps a bit closed down after bottling, the 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis seemed less effusive than when I tasted it last year. It's still a solid performer, concentrated and richly tannic, with mocha and cedar shadings over cherry fruit, but it lacks the drama of the 2015 and the forthcoming 2017."

Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Dec/2017

2015 -

“The 2015 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis, from a vineyard in Mauves, is a blockbuster that manages to be incredibly dense and rich yet pure, offering up notes of crushed stone, vibrant cassis and black olive. Full-bodied and tannic, the wine will require some cellar time to civilize it, yet it already shows hints of greatness in its long, velvety finish.”

Wine Spectator, Nov/2017

2015 -

“Ripe and rich in feel, with flattering plum sauce, raspberry puree and melted red licorice flavors melded together, flowing through a polished, lightly toasted finish. A light flash of bay leaf at the very end adds intrigue. Drink now through 2027. 140 cases made.”

Wine Spectator, Oct/2016

2015 -

"The 2015 St.-Joseph Lieu-dit Paradis is fresh and nicely detailed, with a core of raspberry and blackberry fruit that stretches out over violet, iron and singed anise notes."

Wine Spectator, Nov/2016

2014 -

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Feb/2015

2013 -

"Bright violet color. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of candied dark fruits, potpourri and peppery spices show very clarity and a suggestion of pipe tobacco. Palate-coating black raspberry and floral pastille flavors deepen with air and pick up a smoky nuance, along with a touch of star anise. Sweet, penetrating and pure on the finish, which lingers with strong tenacity and supple, harmonious tannins."

Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Dec/2014

2012 -

"The 2012 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Paradis is brilliant. Coming from a tiny plot of vines near Mauves, in the southern part of the appellation, it gives up classical notes of olive tapenade, smoked earth and assorted dark fruits to go with a medium-bodied, focused, elegant and pure feel on the palate. It's not a blockbuster, but I think it will evolve nicely on its balance. Drink it any time over the coming decade."