Ferraton Pere & Fils, La Source, Saint Joseph, Rhône, 2010

Tasting: Saint Joseph 2010

Spicy smoky nose, with an attractive sauvage character that’s close to gamey. Fresh and precise, with a bright crystalline character and acidity that’s piercing without being green. It’s livelier than the nose suggests. Not especially structured, but it’s stylish and long.

Tasting: Saint Joseph 2010

Reduced on the nose the wine is hard to judge in its infancy. The palate is equally perplexing at the moment, alas

Tasting: Saint Joseph 2010

High notes of tar on the nose, needs decanting to rid its reduction. Stewed plums, red berries present in a nose that is primary, not carrying extra hints as yet. The palate is also held back by its reduction, the black tang fruit not really flowing. A country wine not seeking to be sleek and suave. The fruit will declare more from 2014, and double decanting will also awaken it. Works more on character than precision, is a bit wild, but the fruit is clear, zappy.