Vidal-Fleury, Saint-Joseph 2018

Saint-Joseph 2018, Vidal-Fleury

Rhône Valley, France

Grape Variety: Syrah

Alcohol: 14% ABV

The Story

It was in 1781, in the small commune of Tupin-et-Semons, south of Lyon and within the most prestigious vineyard of the Rhône, that Joseph Vidal founded the Maison of the same name. From the outset, it acquired an international reputation thanks, in particular, to trade with America. Thomas Jefferson, then United States ambassador to France, visited the estate in 1787.

In the 1890s, Gustave Vidal married a Miss Fleury, and Maison Vidal became Maison Vidal-Fleury. This wedding came at just the right time, as the bride's dowry enabled the vineyard, which had just suffered the devastating attacks of phylloxera, to be replanted.

A period of disappointments followed, such as two wars, a lack of skilled labor, market gardening... We thought the vineyard was in agony, but that was without counting on a handful of stubborn men, and above all wine lovers, who would revive the vineyard. With the strength of their tenacity and their arms, they restored the vines and gradually restored their nobility. And this is how Maison Vidal-Fleury became, in the middle of the 20th century, the emblematic Maison of Côte Rôtie.

In 1984, it became the property of the Guigal family: this was the logical next step for these two families, Vidal-Fleury and Guigal, who had always worked together in the wine industry. Indeed, in 1924, Joseph Vidal-Fleury had hired Etienne Guigal, Marcel's father, as winemaker and cellar master. When the Vidal-Fleury family decided to sell, having no heirs wishing to run the House, they naturally turned to the Guigal family... The family story continues.

Vidaly-Fleury, however, retains its full autonomy. In 2008, the House took a new step and invested in new 9,000m² cellars to optimize the maturation, packaging, and aging of the wines in bottles.

Today, Maison Vidal-Fleury has no fewer than 19 of the most prestigious appellations in the Rhône Valley.

Vineyard & Winemaking

The Saint-Joseph appellation is a succession of granite terraces that overlook the river for about fifty kilometers. Our cuvée is made from grapes grown in the south and north of the appellation. The climate is semi-continental with the influence of the cooler Massif Central and the Rhône, which brings mildness.

Hand-picked, completely destemmed, and fermented in stainless steel vats under controlled temperature. The vatting period is 3 weeks. After devatting, the wine is then aged entirely in oak barrels, 12% of which are new barrels, for a year and a half before being bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The nose reveals spicy notes such as nutmeg and cloves. Later, notes of black fruits add a delicious touch to the bouquet. On the palate, the wine is rich and elegant. The round volume is balanced with present and silky tannins. The finish is long with spices and woody notes.

Cellaring & Service

Cellaring Potential: 10-15 years 

Serving Temperature: 18°C

Allergens: This wine contains sulphites