"François Villard’s Saint-Joseph bottling hails all from steep vineyards planted on decomposing granite and quartz. He retains eighty percent whole clusters for this bottling and ages the wine in casks that are two to four years of age. The 2020 Saint-Joseph comes in at 13.5 percent alcohol this year and offers up an excellent nose of cassis, black olives, pepper, grilled meats, stony soil tones, just a whisper of cedar and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and precise, with a rock solid core of fruit, excellent mineral drive, ripe, chewy tannins and a long, complex and tangy finish. This is outstanding Saint-Joseph. 2027-2050+."