The 2017 Saint Joseph showed beautifully and has a slightly more elegant yet sunny profile compared to the bigger, richer 2018, revealing a deep purple color as well as sumptuous notes of black raspberries, crème de cassis, toasted spices, ground pepper, and a terrific sense of minerality. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the pool, with ripe, sweet tannins, and a great finish, it’s another terrific wine from this estate which is unquestionably in the top handful of domaines in Saint Joseph. You can drink bottles today or cellar for over a decade.

Dark purple. Ripe, spice-accented black and blue fruits, cherry liqueur, olive and a pungent floral note on the intensely perfumed nose. Plush blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors display excellent clarity and turn sweeter with air. The smoky, extremely persistent finish shows outstanding detail, and pliant tannins fold smoothly into the sappy, lingering dark fruit.

There’s a dried, red-plum thread to the nose, as well as an array of wet, dark stones and plentiful pepper. Round, dense and intense with very deep, plush tannins. Very complete, soft and balanced. Drink or hold.