Pierre Gonon, Saint Joseph 2019

Their Syrah comes from steep, granite-rich terraces around Mauves, Tournon and Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, including exceptional old vines acquired from the legendary Raymond Trollat.

The outstanding 2019 vintage was fermented with approximately 90% whole bunches and matured in older oak barrels, preserving the purity of the fruit and the distinctive character of its granite terroir.

A benchmark Northern Rhône Syrah, combining remarkable concentration, aromatic complexity and freshness.

Pierre Gonon was a mainstay at Mauves for many years, making quietly understated wines. He was joined by his two sons Jean in 1986 and Pierre in 1988, with the brothers sharing most tasks. Their father had to retire early due to ill health in 1989, and since then the brothers have worked with a passion to raise this domaine to the point where it is now generally considered as the leading domaine in Saint-Joseph.

The brothers initially made wines from two cramped cellars, but in 2002 they finished construction of a new winemaking cave, still linked to one of the two ancient, atmospheric cellars. The domaine's vines are planted in the original heart of the St-Joseph appellation, the granitic terraced hillsides of Mauves and Tournon (a good number of the vines in Mauves were planted by German prisoners of war during the second world war), and their wines came from these two sources until 2004 when they started renting old vines in St-Jean-de-Muzols from the legendary Raymond Trollat – they eventually purchased 3ha from Raymond (which now represents around 40% of their main red cuvee).