Guigal's 2020 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph Blanc—tasted as a representative blend drawn from barrel—showed a bit of reduction, with scents of struck match in addition to more expected notions of woodsmoke and toasted grain. It's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and expansive, but it finished with a dose of mocha-like flavors, which subdued the underlying fruit. Given the track record of this bottling, I expect it to look much better next year.

The barrel-fermented 2019 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph Blanc spends a year in oak, half new and half second-fill. Toasted grain and wood spice mark the nose as a result, but that oaky finish is backed up by ripe pear and melon, and this medium to full-bodied effort is rich and honeyed without losing focus or precision, finishing mouthwatering and long.

Always a star among the Guigal whites, the 2018 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph Blanc is slated for a November release. Entirely barrel fermented in 50% new oak, it's toasty and oaky up front, but it backs that veneer with notes of grilled pear, melon and pineapple. Full-bodied and rich, it's ripe and plush—almost a bit over the top—but it should drink nicely once it settles down a bit.

While Marcel Guigal says he loves to stick his Ex Voto white Hermitage in blind Burgundy tastings, you might also try that with this beauty. The 2017 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph Blanc is all barrel fermented (half in new and half in second use oak) and offers aromas of toasted almonds and hazelnuts. It has a broad, generous mouthfeel and ripe melon and pear flavors. Despite the richness and silky texture, it remains fresh and focused on the lengthy finish.