If there's a region or two in the Northern Rhone that is under appreciated it's either Crozes-Hermitage or St. Joseph. Both are capable of producing incredibly age worthy reds from Syrah, and mind blowing whites from Marsanne and Roussanne, but the reds are overshadowed by the likes of Cornas, Cote-Rotie and Hermitage, while the whites get shoved aside by Condrieu and their perfume like Viognier wines.
Yesterday I pulled a favorite producer's 2010 regular bottling of Syrah, the 2010 Faury St. Joseph Rouge. This is textbook St. Joseph. Full of fruit. Layers upon layers of black and green olives, green and red pepper, a bit of wild game and of course loads of blueberry and black pepper. This is what Northern Rhone Syrah is about when it comes to enjoyment in the bottle.
It's got all the right parts and today it's a fruit forward, rich, viscous and ripe wine that screams for food, cheese or even pizza.
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