Saint-Joseph
Controlled appellation
Les Côtes
"The Domain Alain Voge has produced Saint-Joseph wines for ten years or so. From the 2015 vintage, our Saint-Joseph takes the name of the locality where it is grown: Les Côtes. This terroir has enormous potential and it is gradually revealing its expression as the vines mature. The average age of the vines in 2017 is 12 years old."
The entire domain is cultivated using organic and biodynamic viticulture.
TERROIR
A very steep granite slope facing South in the “showcase slopes” of Mauves, to the South of the Saint-Joseph appellation.
2023 VINTAGE
One more challenging vintage regarding the weather conditions: 2022 was hit by draught as 2023 was hit by stormy rains, and hail in special areas like Saint-Pierre.
The early and virulent mildiou caused almost 25% loss on the Saint-Péray Marsanne. Things were under control at the end of July, then came a sudden and brutal heat, drying the leaves and the grapes with acidity falling down. On August 15th, the plenteous rain will unlock it all. After a focused sorting of the harvest grapes, the fermentations will take place in an easy way. The juices will show surprisingly fresh and gourmand.
This vintage signature will be confirmed in the wines a few months later…
OUR VINE GROWING AND WINEMAKING
• Organic certification for the vines and wine from the 2016 vintage, and biodynamic methods used.
• Syrah replanted from 1999; vines trained and pruned in the Gobelet style and supported by stakes.
• Hand-picked harvests.
• Majority of the harvest de-stemmed, 10 to 20% whole grape bunches, depending on the vintage.
• Fermentation with natural yeasts and maceration for several weeks in stainless steel vats, with cap-punching and pumping-over done twice a day.
• Maturation in 400-litre barrels for 16 months, with no new barrels.
• Amount of sulphite reduced: 73 mg/l total SO2 (100 mg/litre authorised in organic winemaking).
• Production: 3.627 bottles
• Ageing potential: 10 years.
THE ATMOSPHERE…
The dish:
Duckling in a pastry crust, with apples, chestnuts and Ardèche honey
“The exquisite butteriness and crispness of the flaky pastry with the chestnuts blends perfectly with the acidulousness of the apples. Exactly the same sensations are found in the wine, with a very delicious blackcurrant fruitiness enhanced by the overall liveliness of Saint-Joseph.”
The chef:
Guillaume Besson, “Le Jeu de Quilles” wine cellar eatery, Lyon 1er.
… COMMENTS
2023 Vintage: "Lifted and perfumed, it offers blue fruits, wild strawberries, candied orange, and violets. It's medium-bodied, with round, supple mouthfeel and a good finish.”
Jeb Dunnuck (02/26/2026) : 89/100
