I bought this on offer for £8.99, a 25% disco offer.

The most disappointing Rhone this year. Acidity is high, too high ! The citric element actually dominated any taste in the wine. No spice there at all, no black brambles, or raspberries as claimed ! Thin, mean and acerbic in feel and texture. Some oak could have tempered that acidity.

Very unsatisfying, mouth feel is pretty hard, gum numbing, and a lousy bottle of wine overall. Finish, if there was any real northern Rhone hot stones flavour from the syrah, was very short.

http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a200912041.html

Can't believe that Jancis would have written that TN for this wine today (8 Dec 2009 by Julia Harding MW) - or - I might have a bad bottle, but with no obvious signs of being corked ! The other bottle/bottles go back.

Not recommended by me. I'd have to say, avoid the '07 vintage for this wine if it is still on the shelves.

7/11/2011

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Duncan

I found the acidity a little more noticeable on the finish of the Sainsbury's version, which Jancis described as 'succulent and inviting with no rough edges ... very much for food'. I agree about drinking this wine with food, whichever version you chance upon.

Apology to Waitrose, and my error

Edited - the '07 Saint Joseph that I have is from Sainsbury's - NOT Waitrose, the wine is from the same producer, very similar looking labels. The succulence was the higher acidy - the fruit though, and the texture (as in mouth coating / mouth feel) has been running away like mad.

What is it with these cheap Saint Joe's that fade-away so fast ? Drink-up, if you still have some of this in your racks. Evolution is for the more expensive boutique ones.

One bottle left - A cellaring error so soon ? Silly me.

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Duncan