Domaine Aleofane Saint Joseph rouge

Domaine Aléofane Saint Joseph

WHY WE LOVE IT

  • Minimalist-approved cool-climate Syrah from an organically farmed plot in Saint Joseph!
  • An example of base level Saint Joseph with so much stuffing that you can age it for decades.

Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah

Elaboration: During fermentation, the wine spent four weeks in tank. During this time, the juice was pumped over the skins, but the “pump-overs” were performed fractionally, in stages throughout the day. After the cap (the skins etc…that float to the top of the tank) was broken up, the solids were infused in the juice for an extra 5 days. The wine was put directly into barrel. A combination of 80% demimuids (600 liter barrels), and 20% pieces (220 liter barrels). The wine was aged in barrel for 11 months before bottling. The wine was neither fined nor filtered.

Tasting Notes: Dark crimson color with purple a sheen. The nose detects flowery and spicy essences, including violets, blackcurrants, blackberries, Sichuan berry and mocha. The palate, full and balanced, combines the density of fine tannins and mineral freshness.

PRESS

2017 – 91 Vinous

2018 – 92 Vinous

2019 – 92 Jeb Dunnuck | 94 Jeb Dunnuck

2020 – 93 Vinous

PRODUCER BACKGROUND

Natacha Chave knew she would make wine like her parents. Before setting up she decided to take her baccalaureate, then went on to obtain her masters in Philosophy of language. At the beginning of the year 2000, her brother Yann Chave took over their father’s domaine (Bernard Chave), a renowned vineyard created in 1970 on the Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage appellations. Natacha was now ready to get into the family business. She enrolled at the Suze la Rousse wine university in 2003, then passed a Farming Professional Capacity (CPA), and then did her work experience with various winegrowers to complete her training. In 2004, she bought 1.5ha of vines in the Saint Joseph appellation at Tournon-sur-Rhône. In 2007, she bought 40 years old vines on a Crozes-Hermitage appellation in the Chassis plain (Beaumont-Monteux village) and planted a few vines reaching 5ha extending her domaine to 6.5ha.

The name of the domaine is Aléofane, in reference with the imaginary island from a book by author, John Macmillan Brown. According to Natacha Chave, “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 winemaking process.” Grass covering between rows, total work of the soil according to the years to induce or not competition with the vine. And she goes on with vinification: indigenous yeasts and no enzyme. No filtration, no fining and few sulphites as possible. Natacha also uses biodynamic preparations that favor the stimulation of the plant natural immunity and its balance. — Natacha’s approach is very time consuming, but the payoff is well worth it.

PRINT review SHELF TALKER (2020 – 93 Vinous)