2019 Domaine Aleofane Saint-Joseph

"One of the finest wines I’ve tasted from Chave is her 2019 Saint Joseph, a pure, medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant Saint Joseph that does everything right." ~Jeb Dunnuck.

When it comes to the Rhône Valley, the last name Chave needs no introduction. To have an idea of the pedigree of this wine, Natacha Chave is the proud owner of Domaine Aléofane. 

Natacha was born in a family of expert vignerons, besides being in this same family tree as Jean-Luis Chave, her father is Bernard Chave and her brother is Yann Chave, both extremely recognized winemakers in the Rhône Valley.

Her wine destiny was practically written in stone, and she started pursuing her dream when she graduated from Suze la Rousse in 2003 and worked in different wineries in the region. Only one year later, she purchased her first vineyards, and today, she owns more than 16 acres in some of Rhône’s most emblematic appellations like Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph.

Natacha’s winemaking is one of minimal intervention, following sustainable practices and biodynamic principles in the vineyard, no filtration, no clarification, and low sulfites. She wants to let the fruit and terroir shine for themselves, she says, “our immediate will is the respect of nature, soils, grapes and is to be as little as interventionist as possible both in grape growing and in the winemaking process.”

2019 was an outstanding year for Saint Joseph. Decanter even declared it an “excellent vintage” and said that it “is deserving of its early tag as one to match the best years of the 20th Century in the Northern Rhône.”Wine Spectator blessed this year with a 96-point review where they stated that “Reds are very concentrated and defined.”

Aging: 11 months in French oak barrels. 

100% Syrah. Dark crimson color with purple a sheen. The nose has flowery and spicy essences, including violets, blackcurrants, blackberries, Sichuan berries, and mocha. The palate, full and balanced, combines the density of fine tannins and mineral freshness.

One of the finest wines I’ve tasted from Chave is her 2019 Saint Joseph, a pure, medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant Saint Joseph that does everything right. Giving up ample cassis and darker berry fruits as well as notes of violets, bacon fat, and damp stone, it has great tannins, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. It’s a brilliant bottle of wine to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years. ~94 Jeb Dunnuck.

A fresh, elegant wine that has the spice of a southern Saint Joseph. Concentrated but rounded, easy-going, and fresh on the palate. The light extraction and good acidity have really helped to retain a more classic Saint-Joseph profile. Tournon granite. ~92 Decanter.

Deeply savory in style, the 2019 Saint Joseph—from a granite-based parcel near Tournon and aged in demi-muids—boasts notes of black olives and espresso on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is richly tannic and concentrated, turning velvety on the finish. ~90 Robert Parker. 

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