Well, Jeb Dunnuck, who is the most chilled out laid back wine critic I have ever met came out withhis massive 2015 Northern (and Southern) Rhone Report in the latest Wine Advocate. Besides liking my Instagram photos every now and then (hint hint that might get you allocations in the future) he really did an excellent writeup and the main message he conveys is what I've been screaming from the rooftops all along that this is one of the best vintages ever and you all need to go long as long can be. Quotes below.
"As to the 2015s, this is a truly sensational vintage that should not be missed by any Rhône lover out there. Let me say that one more time: 2015 is a truly sensational vintage."
"A number of vignerons compared the vintage to 1990, but for those of us with shorter tasting histories, the vintage comes closest in my mind to a hypothetical blend of 2009 and 2010."
Michelle Luyton makes stunningly elegant, pure and fresh wines from the top down. Her Hermitage, both red and white, are already cult stars at Fass Selections and her St. Joseph is on the way to being a cult star. While 2013 was her best work up until 2015, she really lapped the '13 in terms of quality (and I love the '13). This wine is an awesome value and one of the best values from St. Joseph I sell.
Today 4-packs of the 2015 Michele Luyton St. Joseph for $28.99 a bottle. The wine is sensational. They only have .2 ha of St. Joseph and it is done in their house style which emphasizes complexity and elegance over power and extraction. In 2015 there is a lot more stuffing along with the requisite Luyton complexity and elegance. There is terrific clean, pure and precise black and raspberry fruit, excellent framing acidity and long and spicy complex and earthy finish. The aromas are in like 4-D with massive earthy and fruit and lovely floral aromas. Ever changing but always remaining classical and clean. There is a depth and vividness to the fruit I just have not encountered before in Michel's wines. The freshness and purity are just ridiculous for a wine from St. Joseph that is under $28 a bottle. It has distinction and character and is in a radically different style than the ones from Alexandrins, Cote Epine, Darnaud, Gripa and Gonon. If I sell 5 St. Josephs, they all will be very very different. Jeb Dunnuck gave it 89-92 pts and his review is below.
"The only red from the estate I was able to taste was the 2015 Saint Joseph. This inky-colored barrel sample has Côte Rôtie-like elegance as well as classy notes of raspberries, flowers, graphite and a hint of minerality. Medium-bodied, silky and polished on the palate, it's impeccably balanced and should keep for a decade." 89-92 Jeb Dunnuck
Michel Luyton and Lionel Babic are both so enthusiastic and passionate about their winery which they only started in 2006 or so, whilst before that all the grapes were sent to the Cave Tain l'Hermitage. Michelle's father, 25 years ago, planted a small parcel with some Syrah vines in St. Joseph but always sold to the Cave Tain l'Hermitage. He did this so he could eventually afford to buy vineyards in Hermitage. Michelle loves working outside so her time in the vineyards is a natural fit. As her father aged, she worked in the vineyards and continued to sell the grapes to the Cave Tain l'Hermitage and hired Lionel Babic to help her out. Lionel, though, secretly learned how to make wine at a neighbor. When Michelle found out she left him a vineyard in St. Joseph. Lionel made a brilliant wine and Michelle decided after tasting that wine she would no longer sell her grapes to the Co-op and vinify all of them herself. She had that a-ha moment which I am sure all of you have had with wine.
When it comes to the cultivation of the vines, she takes a hands off approach and will spray as little as possible. She has maximum respect for nature and is humbled by it. She definitely has a flower child, respect nature approach to her work and it really comes out in the wines. They are alive. She has a winemaker now, named Chistophe, who guides her every step of the way. Christophe is all about respecting the balance of nature and it is again reflected in the wines which are supernally balanced. They glide across your palate. Another iron fist in a velvet glove wine.
While the Luytons have been planting grapes for over 25 years, this is only their 6th year bottling wines under their name; they are still building a name for themselves and hence the wines are just incredibly cheap even for Fass Selections!
2015 Michelle Luyton St. Joseph - $30.99 ($115.96 4-pack)
(VERY LIMITED)
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