An appealing perfumed nose of intense liquorice and vanilla leads to a palate characteristically mineral with delicious sweet dark fruit, good balance and evident but ripe tannins. Already seductive and elegant, the awards are for the undoubted potential of this superb wine which is still young and will continue to develop complexity over the coming years.

At the foot of the famous Hermitage hillside, the Cave de Tain l'Hermitage produces five appellation contrôlée wines, namely Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, Cornas and St-Péray. The Cave de Tain l'Hermitage owns a 21 hectare domaine within the Hermitage appellation and the winemaker, Xavier Frouin supervises each stage of vinification, from grape reception, classified according to quality, right up to bottling. The objective of the Cave is to provide wine lovers around the world with authentic wines which bear the full character of their individual " terroir ", bringing out the best through careful and non-intrusive vinification methods. Wine making techniques are highly traditional and successive generations have contributed to the growth and development of the winery by producing grapes of a quality they are now known and admired for.

Vineyards are situated on the right bank of the valley in the Northern Rhône and arranged in terraces on granite soil. Vine roots push deeper into granitic soil and this results in the characteristic freshness and balance. Harvesting is by hand and grapes from the old Syrah vines are selected from the best sites in the Saint Joseph vineyard.

A second and uncompromising selection of the grapes takes place in the cellar to determine the final “Esprit de Granit”. All grapes are destemmed and each parcel is vinified separately. Aged in new oak 400l barrels.

Will be brilliant with roast lamb & beef, good farmhouse cheeses.

2010 Vintage: "...possesses some new oak as well as plenty of minerality, acidity and tannin. This full-bodied, powerful, muscular St Joseph needs 1-2 years of bottle age, and should keep for 10-12+ years. 90+ points."
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, #204, 27th December 2012

2010 Vintage: IWC 2013 - Gold
2010 Vintage: IWC 2013 - French Red Trophy, International Syrah Trophy, St Joseph Trophy
2010 Vintage: Syrah du Monde 2012 - Gold Medal
2010 Vintage: Syrah du Monde 2012 - Top 10 Best Syrah du Monde
2010 Vintage: Decanter World Wine Awards 2013 - Bronze