Saint Joseph Rouge, J-L Chave 2018

Looking at the 2018 from barrel, I was able to taste two barrel samples of the 2018 Saint Joseph. It’s largely in the same style as the 2017 and just textbook Saint Joseph with its darker, mineral-laced fruits and smoked meat and pepper aromas and flavors. It’s beautifully done, medium to full-bodied, and will drink nicely in its youth yet also age.

Still in component parts, the 2018 Saint Joseph should be another winner. The least concentrated, yet still exceptional Chalaix (92 - 94) displayed enticing notes of violets, blueberries and licorice; the Dardouille (93 - 95) was lusher and suppler, loaded with black cherries; and the Bachasson (94 - 96) was the most complex, mixing herbs and licorice with plummy fruit.