2018 Stephane Ogier St Joseph Le Passage

Father Michel sold his grapes to Guigal until 1987. After that he started making and bottling his own wine. Son Stéphane now holds sway and in 2009 he bought additional vineyards. All his wines are of an astonishingly high standard.

A bottle of herbs that is this beautiful St. Joseph! Ogier's Saint Joseph le Passage 2018 is largely from Malleval and contains classic Syrah elements of asphalt, black olive, black pepper and blackberry. It is medium to full bodied and has silky tannins, but also a certain amount of muscle and intensity under that soft exterior. With 30% new oak (the highest proportion of new oak in all red wine in the cellar this year), the oak is not obtrusive at all and blends seamlessly into the fruit.