Cave de Tain Saint Joseph 2012

Cave de Tain Saint Joseph 2012 is a Northern Rhone red wine made from 100% Syrah in the Saint-Joseph appellation, vintage 2012, in a 750ml bottle. Produced by the Cave de Tain, the respected cooperative of Tain-l'Hermitage, it shows the peppery, smoky, dark-fruited character of granite-grown Syrah, now softened by more than a decade of bottle age.

Quick Facts: Origin: Saint-Joseph AOC, Northern Rhone, France | Vintage: 2012 | Varietal: 100% Syrah | Producer: Cave de Tain

Production & Heritage

The Cave de Tain was founded in 1933 in Tain-l'Hermitage, the town at the foot of the Hermitage hill, and it has grown into one of the most important producers in the Northern Rhone, farming vineyards across Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Cornas and Saint-Peray. Unlike many cooperatives, it is known for quality, with a modern winery, sustainable farming and significant holdings on the great hill of Hermitage itself. Saint-Joseph stretches along the west bank of the Rhone on steep granite terraces, and its red wines must be made from Syrah, with only a small allowance for white grapes. The Cave de Tain's Saint-Joseph is destemmed, fermented in temperature-controlled vats and aged in a mix of oak casks and barrels for about a year before bottling. The 2012 vintage in the Northern Rhone produced ripe, balanced Syrah with good acidity, and at this age the wine has moved from primary fruit into the savory, peppery, leathery phase that makes mature Rhone Syrah so compelling.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Black olive, cracked black pepper and smoked meat lead, with blackberry, dried violet, leather and a hint of graphite and bay leaf.

Taste: Medium to full-bodied, with dark berry and plum fruit now layered with savory notes of cured meat, licorice and earth. The tannins have softened to a fine, silky grip, and the acidity remains fresh.

Finish: Long and savory, with pepper, smoke and dark fruit fading into a mineral, slightly salty close.

How to Drink Cave de Tain Saint Joseph

Stand the bottle upright for a day, decant gently to leave any sediment behind, and serve Cave de Tain Saint Joseph at around 60 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit in a large glass. Mature Northern Rhone Syrah is a classic match for roast duck or game birds, herb-crusted rack of lamb and grilled sausages with lentils, the traditional Rhone pairing. Aged Saint-Nectaire or Tomme de Savoie cheeses round out the meal. Drink it over the course of the evening rather than keeping it open.

Best For

• Rhone lovers seeking a mature Syrah at a fair price
• Celebrations tied to the 2012 vintage
• Duck, lamb and game dinners
• Gifting a serious French red with age already on it

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cave de Tain Saint Joseph taste like? It tastes of blackberry and plum layered with black pepper, black olive, smoked meat, leather and violets, with silky mature tannins, fresh acidity and a long savory finish typical of aged Northern Rhone Syrah.

How does Cave de Tain Saint Joseph compare to Crozes-Hermitage? Crozes-Hermitage from the flatter east bank tends to be softer and more fruit-forward. Saint-Joseph, grown on steep granite slopes across the river, is usually more structured, peppery and mineral, closer in style to Hermitage and Cornas.

Is Cave de Tain Saint Joseph ready to drink? Yes. At more than a decade of age, the 2012 is in its mature window, with resolved tannins and developed savory aromas. It should be enjoyed now rather than cellared much longer.

Where is Cave de Tain Saint Joseph made? The grapes are grown on granite terraces in the Saint-Joseph appellation on the west bank of the Rhone, and the wine is made by the Cave de Tain cooperative in Tain-l'Hermitage, France.

What foods pair well with Cave de Tain Saint Joseph? Roast duck, squab, rack of lamb, beef daube, grilled sausages, mushroom dishes, lentils and semi-hard French cheeses all pair beautifully with its peppery, savory profile.

What sizes does Cave de Tain Saint Joseph come in? This listing is the standard 750ml bottle of the 2012 vintage.

Is Cave de Tain Saint Joseph worth the price? Mature Saint-Joseph from a quality producer is rarely available at retail, and when it is, it typically costs far more than a current release. This bottling offers aged Northern Rhone Syrah at a price that is hard to match.

Why Cave de Tain Saint Joseph?

Cave de Tain Saint Joseph 2012 offers something wine lovers rarely get to buy: Northern Rhone Syrah that someone else has already aged. The granite slopes of Saint-Joseph give the wine its pepper, smoke and minerality, the Cave de Tain's careful winemaking gives it balance, and a decade in bottle has turned it savory, silky and complex. Pour it with duck, lamb or sausages and lentils and it tastes like a bistro in Tain-l'Hermitage. For Rhone fans, collectors and gift-givers alike, it is a rare and rewarding find.