The Northern Rhône is a unique wine region. Just three white grapes are allowed - Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier - while Syrah is the only red. Famous appellations, such as Hermitage with its full-bodied, long-lived, spicy red wines and Condrieu, renowned for rich and concentrated, aromatic Viognier expressions are prized by many fine wine lovers. Yet, this doesn't mean that very affordable, good quality wines are hard to find.
Saint-Joseph is the region's second-largest appellation, with around 90% of wine production red. The AOC was established in 1956, but extended in 1969 to cover more communes. Less than 50 miles in length from north to south, steep east-facing granite slopes dominate, although there's a wide variety of soil types. The climate is continental with cold, wet and windy winters, followed by warm summers.
Among Aldi's selection of good value Rhône wines is Romain Duvernay AOC Saint-Joseph 2018 (£14.99 online purchase only).
It's part of the supermarket's Classic Icons range that showcases a selection of traditional wine styles made from renowned grapes.
This wine is made from 100% Syrah, grown on soft gneiss and schist soils overlying a granitic base. The vineyard, in the village of Charnas, is south/south-east facing at an altitude of 330 metres above sea level. Harvesting is carried out by hand during the daytime. The wine is partially aged in French barriques (30% new barrels) for 12 to 14 months. ABV is 13%.
The current vintage sold by Aldi is the 2019. However, the previous vintage was recently available, so I have included tasting notes for both. These are full-bodied wines with delicate tannins that open up and soften further once the bottle has been opened. They will continue to drink well for several more years.
Colour: Deep ruby with a hint of garnet.
Nose: Notes of cherries, mixed berries and peppery spice with hints of liquorice, cedarwood and cinnamon.
Palate: Notes of juicy black cherries, blackberries, liquorice and black pepper with a hint of cloves, leading to a smooth, fruity finish with a touch of milk chocolate, vanilla and a slightly saline edge.
Colour: Deep ruby with a hint of garnet.
Nose: Notes of ripe cherries and mixed berries with hints of liquorice and spice.
Palate: A core of ripe, juicy fruit with notes of black cherries, red and black berries, prunes and black pepper spice. Hints of salty liquorice and black olive develop mid-palate, while there's a touch of black coffee bitterness on the finish.
Food match: A versatile wine, particularly for hearty winter food, both vintages would be a particularly good match for lamb tagine, slow roast lamb shoulder in a red wine sauce or spicy, vegetarian bean stews.
