Description
Erwan Masse’s Saint-Joseph:
- Colour: intense garnet red
- Blend: Syrah (100%)
- Nose: Subtle, with aromas of ripe red fruit, light oak, pepper and smoked bacon.
- Palate: Full-bodied and balanced with silky tannins from ripe fruit and peppery notes.
- Harvest: 100% hand-picked, destemmed
- Fermentation: with indigenous yeasts
- Maceration: at 25°C for 5 weeks in a fibreglass vat
- Ageing: in 228-litre oak barrels for 12 months
- Filtration: light
The estate
You may not yet be familiar with Erwan Masse, but his name will soon be on the lips of Rhône wine enthusiasts. Established in 2017, his estate is located in Sarras in the Ardèche, within the Saint-Joseph appellation. The 3.5 hectares of Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Marsanne are situated on a plateau at an altitude of around 350 metres. The shallow granite soils allow for slow ripening, moderate alcohol levels and lovely acidity. Erwan Masse’s wines (L’invitation, Marsanne, Parenthèse, La Robe Rouge, Saint-Joseph) are simply luminous and precise, prioritising fruit and finesse over extraction or excessive ageing.
From organic farming to agroforestry
Although the organic certification process began in 2021, the vineyard has been managed using organic farming methods from the outset. The soil is sown with cover crops, and the rows are weeded mechanically. On the hillside plots, the soil is worked using a horse. Since 2020, Erwan Masse has been planting using agroforestry methods, combining vines with apple or pear trees on the same plot. Ultimately, the estate is not expected to exceed 5 hectares. The harvest is carried out by hand, as are many of the tasks on the estate, and the winemaking is minimalist.
What to eat with a Saint-Joseph from Erwan Masse?
- Red meat
- roast or grilled beef
- Quails simmered in their own juices in a casserole
- dark chocolate desserts
