2014 Aurélien Chatagnier Saint Joseph Rouge

Price: $33
Region: St. Joseph < Northern Rhone Valley < France 
Grapes: Syrah
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; extremely steep vineyards with granite soils; total de-stemming; aged 12 months in used barrels; unfined/unfiltered; 300 cases made
Winemaker: Aurélien Chatagnier

After working with several acclaimed Rhone producers, Aurélien Chatagnier struck out on his own in 2002 as a young pup in his early 20s. Starting with just over 1 hectare of rented vines, Aurélien has steadily built up a domaine of almost 10 hectares by purchasing, bartering, and replanting vineyards at the Northern extreme of the Saint Joseph appellation, which produces elegant, tightly-focused reds that often have more in common with the wines of Burgundy than the Rhone. Aurélien tends towards a lean, pure style of winemaking, earning him the reputation as one of the best young winemakers in the region. This is a truly classic example of Northern Rhone Syrah – rustic, delicate but powerful, layers of cherry, black pepper, and cedar.