Lionel Faury Saint-Joseph Cuvee La Gloriette Vieilles Vignes, Rhone, France 2022

Along the steep, narrow valley that traces the northern Rhône, the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Saint-Joseph take their place among the great wines of France, and Domaine Faury is one of the region’s most artisanal producers. When Philippe Faury took over the domaine in 1979, the family was selling wine, peaches and cherries, and the bulk of their clientele was local. Over the years, Philippe expanded their holdings to over eleven hectares, and expanded sales to an international client base. In addition, he has shared his savoir faire with his son, Lionel. In 2006, Lionel took over the reins at Domaine Faury, comfortably stepping into the role of vineyard and cellar manager to build off his father's hard work and take the domaine to new heights.  

What I love most about Faury’s old-vine Saint Joseph are the lively, peppery aromatics offered right at the first pour. The roots of these vines run deep, and deep is what you get in the glass, too—a rich mix of black olive, fennel, and raspberry. This cuvée is a longtime personal favorite, solid and dependable year in and year out, from the domaine’s oldest vines, situated in the famed “Le Blanchard” parcel on the northern tip of the Saint Joseph appellation.