Presentation
A renowned figure in the northern Rhône, Christophe Pichon has earned a reputation for his dedication to terroir and detail. On the steep slopes of appellations like Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie, and Saint-Joseph, he cultivates Syrah and Viognier with passion and precision. The estate follows sustainable viticultural practices and hand-harvests its grapes to maintain optimal quality. In the cellar, vinification is exacting, with barrel aging that enhances the natural complexity of the wines. His Condrieu is rich and aromatic with a silky texture, while his reds combine power and finesse, revealing black fruit, violet, and spice. A reference in the Rhône Valley.
Location
The Saint-Joseph vineyard stretches across 26 communes in the Ardèche and Loire departments, covering a total of 1,300 hectares. The hillsides are composed of steep granite slopes offering stunning views of the Alps and Mont Pilat. For white wines, the grape varieties used are Marsanne and Roussanne. White wines represent 9% of the total Saint-Joseph appellation.
Terroir
Soil: Granite soil located on upper slopes Surface area: 2.11 hectares
In the vineyard
Planting density: 7,000 vines/ha
Yield: 45 hl/ha
Harvest
Manual harvesting
Winemaking
Key stages from harvest to bottling include gentle pressing, fermentation in barrels (from new to third use), and careful monitoring of temperature and lees contact to preserve freshness and complexity.
Ageing
Aged for 10 months in barrels ranging from new to third use.
Varietals
Marsanne : 92%
Roussanne : 8%
Specifications
Production volume : 5 200
Age of vines : 40 years old
Ingredients & nutrition ›
Serving
Serving temperature: 13–15°C
Ageing potential
5 to 10 years
Tasting
This Saint-Joseph Blanc stands out with its pale yellow color and green highlights. The nose is clean, intense, and complex, dominated by floral aromas of acacia, mingled with honeyed and lightly spiced notes. On the palate, the attack is smooth, the texture is full and deep, with a lovely roundness and a slightly creamy mouthfeel. A noble acidity brings balance and gives the wine excellent ageing potential. This dry, elegant, and generous white wine perfectly reflects the granite terroir of the northern Rhône Valley slopes.
Visual appearance
Pale yellow with green reflections
At nose
Acacia flowers, honey, light spice
On the palate
Smooth attack, full-bodied texture, round and balanced with refreshing acidity
Food pairings
This Saint-Joseph Blanc pairs beautifully with sauced fish dishes such as sea bream with lemon butter or cod in cream sauce. It also complements richer dishes like roasted capon, poultry with morels, or salt cod fritters. For a vegetarian option, try it with zucchini gratin or asparagus risotto. As for cheeses, opt for pressed varieties like Comté or Beaufort, which echo the wine’s roundness and aromatic complexity.