Jean-Baptiste Souillard Saint-Joseph 2022 Marsanne (6 Bottles) Rhone, France

This single-vineyard Marsanne comes from a postage stamp-sized parcel (0.2 ha) of vines west of Béziers at Capestang (in the Hérault). Though still generous in texture, the wine's chiselled freshness comes from the cooler, north-facing aspect, the clay/limestone soils and sensitive canopy management. The fruit spent a short period on skins before being basket-pressed. Some press component was retained, which firms up the structure and provides a mouth-watering, phenolic character that works so well at the table.