Domaine Jolivet 'Cuvée de Louis Rouge' Vin de France 2021

A decade ago, young winemaker Bastian Jolivet returned to the family estate from apprenticeships abroad (Condrieu, New Zealand, and South Africa), and decided along with his father to bottle their own wine, rather than selling to the local coop as they had in the past. Since then his star has been continuously on the rise. ‘Cuvée de Louis’ refers to their family’s longtime friend who leases to the domaine a small plot of old vines situated just outside the northern border of the St. Joseph appellation. The organically farmed syrah of that stony, wild area is aged for 6 months in stainless steel and bottled without fining and with minimal filtration and sulfur. Fresh, juicy, and rustic, this delivers bright red berries and black pepper on a silky palate accented by hints of campfire smoke and bacon. Organically grown.