Guigal St. Joseph Lieu Dit Blanc 2016 (750ML)

94 JD / 94 WA / 94 WS / 93 VM / 93 JS / 93 DE / 17 JR

I was blown away by the 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Saint Joseph Blanc, which is up with some of the top vintages of this cuvée. Terrific notes of sautéed white peach, caramelized citrus, brioche and crème brûlée all give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless, impressively balanced white. Coming from the namesake vineyard of the appellation, a south facing, granite hillside south of Tournon, this beauty will keep for over a decade. – Jeb Dunnuck

The 2016 Saint Joseph lieu dit Saint Joseph Blanc includes the old-vine fruit from the former Grippat estate. A blend of 92% Marsanne and 8% Roussanne fermented in 50% new oak and 50% second-fill barriques, it’s ripe and honeyed, marked by aromas of toasted grain, then eases into flavors of toasted marshmallow and orange marmalade before gliding to a long, spicy finish. This medium to full-bodied white looks to have the potential to last up to 10 years in bottle. - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate

Offers alluring verbena, yellow apple and Cavaillon melon aromas and flavors that flow together, with a creamy, polished feel through the shortbread-tinged finish. Delivers a beautiful feel and flow, revealing a hint of opulence. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2023. 1,083 cases made. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

(50% new oak) Bright yellow. Intense, mineral-accented nectarine, pear liqueur, chamomile and honey qualities on the nose, joined by a suave floral topnote that gains strength with aeration. Chewy, concentrated and focused on the palate, offering powerful pear skin, white peach and marzipan flavors that show excellent focus and minerally lift. The mineral nuance carries through an impressively persistent finish that features hints of fresh pear and sweet butter. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous

This has been wedged into shape with a bold serving of oak. Very intense, cedary, chalky aromas with a core of concentrated, ripe, peaches and pears. Slight, resiny edge to the finish. Plenty of fruit and a lot of oak-derived artifice here for now. Try in 2020. - James Suckiing

50% vinified in new oak, 50% in two year old barriques. It has a very lively, powerful nose of yellow plum, quince and a touch of mango. It's full-bodied, rich and rounded, with a slightly oily texture and good mineral drive leading onto a long finish. The oak influence is strong but the fruit shines through. - Matt Walls, Decanter

Orange peel, almond and hazelnut, lovely weight and thickness. Low acidity, but enough to keep the structure balanced. Rounded, sophisticated and full of delicious ripe stone fruit.  - Jancis Robinson