Yves Cuilleron St. Joseph Blanc 'Digue' 2018

A rare 100% Roussanne from Saint-Joseph, Digue showcases the remarkable potential of one of the Rhône Valley’s most expressive white grape varieties outside its more famous Hermitage homeland. Yves Cuilleron has long been recognised as one of the Northern Rhône’s leading interpreters, with a deep understanding of the region’s steep hillside vineyards and the individual character of each parcel. Sourced from granite-rich slopes, this cuvée benefits from soils that naturally limit yields while preserving freshness, giving Roussanne the concentration, aromatic complexity and mineral tension needed to age gracefully. The 2018 vintage was a warm, generous year in the Northern Rhône, producing wines with impressive texture and richness, but the best producers retained the balance and energy that define the region’s finest whites.

Made entirely from Roussanne, Digue 2018 was fermented and matured in French oak, allowing the wine to gain depth and complexity while maintaining the purity of the variety and vineyard. The bouquet is beautifully expressive, revealing aromas of white flowers, honeysuckle, jasmine and acacia alongside ripe pear, quince, citrus peel, almond, beeswax, chamomile and subtle spice. The palate is rich yet refined, with a silky texture balanced by vibrant acidity and a distinctive mineral freshness that carries through to a long, elegant finish. With bottle age, the wine is beginning to develop the layered savoury complexity that makes mature Rhône whites so captivating, gaining notes of wax, spice and dried fruit while retaining remarkable precision. A superb match for lobster, scallops, turbot, roast poultry, creamy sauces, mushroom dishes and aged cheeses.