Domaine Monier Perréol : Saint-Joseph 2020

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for the Domaine Monier Perréol Saint-Joseph 2020

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep ruby hue with purple highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals aromas of ripe black fruits, notably blackcurrant, accompanied by spicy nuances of black pepper. Floral notes of violet and peony round out the bouquet, sometimes joined by smoky touches and licorice.

Palate

On the palate, the attack is straightforward and energetic, carried by a lovely natural freshness. The mid-palate unfolds with a generous, velvety texture, marked by fine, well-integrated tannins that bring structure and definition without ever overpowering. The finish remains long, combining black fruit, spice, and a subtly peppery signature typical of the great wines of the Northern Rhône Valley.

Food and wine pairings

This Saint-Joseph 2020 pairs perfectly with grilled or sauced red meats, such as a rib steak with Provençal herbs or boeuf bourguignon. It also elegantly complements game, notably grilled venison or venison stew with juniper berries. More refined pairings include a cutlet topped with mushroom scales, fresh pasta with morels, or an entrecôte with Bordeaux-style sauce, sautéed potatoes, and confit shallots.

Serving and cellaring

This Saint-Joseph 2020 can be enjoyed now or kept for a few years in the cellar to allow its complexity to fully express itself.

An Authentic Biodynamic Saint-Joseph from the Rhône Valley

The estate

The Domaine Monier Perréol was established in 2008 through the partnership of Jean-Pierre Monier and Philippe Perréol. Located in Saint-Désirat in northern Ardèche, on the right bank of the Rhône, the estate covers twelve hectares devoted exclusively to the Saint-Joseph appellation. Jean-Pierre Monier, who took over the family estate in 1976, joined forces with Philippe Perréol, a biodynamics specialist, to create a structure producing wines of remarkable quality. Today, the new generation—Guillaume and Samuel Monier—takes an active role in the life of the estate. The property stands out for its early commitment to biodynamics, practiced since 1995, and for using horses to work the vines on the steepest plots.

The vineyard

The estate’s vines are located within the Saint-Joseph appellation, in the northern Vallée du Rhône, in the commune of Saint-Désirat. The vineyard stretches across narrow terraces on steep slopes, mainly south- and southeast-facing. The soils are primarily granite, with local variations including surface loess and white clays running through the granitic rock. This geological makeup gives the wines a distinctive mineral signature. The vines are farmed under certified biodynamics and have been worked with horses since 1995 on plots inaccessible to mechanization. Harvesting is entirely by hand, followed by rigorous sorting in the vineyard.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage benefited from favorable climatic conditions in the northern Rhône Valley, with optimal sunshine and moderate temperatures allowing for even ripening of the grapes. This balanced maturity, far from excessive overripeness, helped preserve the freshness and harmony sought by the estate.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking of this Saint-Joseph 2020 follows a natural, non-interventionist approach. Alcoholic fermentations begin spontaneously with the indigenous yeasts naturally present on the grapes, without inoculation with commercial yeasts. Aging takes place for around twelve months in barrels, favoring older casks or those that have held several wines rather than new oak, in order to minimize oak influence and preserve the expression of the granitic terroir.

Grape variety

100% Syrah