2024 Xavier Gerard, Saint-Joseph, Le Blanchard

The 2024 Saint-Joseph Le Blanchard is a force to be reckoned with. From a site down the road in Chavanay, just south of Condrieu, this wine is limited to a mere 2,000 bottles annually. The aromatics lead with crushed violets layered over nuanced notes of ripe fruit, freshly dampened earth, and pulverized minerals. On the palate, the tannins are silky and fine-grained, carrying a generous yet seamless mid-palate. It is an undeniably pretty, lifted, and ageable expression of Northern Rhône Syrah.