An elegantly styled effort, the 2011 Saint Joseph is 100% Syrah and spent 20 months in barrel prior to bottling. Loaded with spice, cedar and lead pencil that’s intermixed with solid darker styled fruit, it is medium+-bodied, impressively balanced and finishes with excellent length. Already charming and upfront, drink it over the coming 3-5 years. Owned by the Guigal team, with the wines made by Guy Sarton-de-Joncquey, Vidal Fleury produces a wealth of high quality releases, most of which represent fantastic values. In addition to the northern and southern Rhone releases reviewed here, readers should also look at Issue 209 for the remainder of the southern Rhone efforts.