If you have the sense that you’re hearing about the northern Rhône more than you used to, blame the surge of young winemaking talent flocking to this rugged region, all who claim commitment to human-scale, minimal-input winemaking on this sloped granite terrain.

One such winemaker is Sylvain Gauthier of Domaine des Pierres Sèches in St-Joseph, who grew up in Northern France, studied winemaking in Beaune, then worked his way through the wine regions of France before falling in love with the stark beauty of the Rhône and its syrah. His domaine, nestled above the river valley, is named after the ancient hand-built stone walls around the terraced vineyards in the region.

Though all his wines are known for their soulful, rugged character, 1930 stands above, sourced from the lieu-dit ‘Aubert,’ one of the original three communes selected in 1956 for the Saint-Joseph appellation. Named after the year the vines were planted—making them over 90 years old—the 2020 features layered black fruit, black pepper, licorice, and bramble, with hints of baking spice. It’s rich and regal while maintaining precise balance.

If this is what the Rhône renaissance tastes like, expect to hear even more from the region in the coming years.