Impressive structure in this St.-Joseph. Really powerful fruit here. Aromas of red plums and cherries, pepper and sweetly spiced wood, leading to a palate with red-plums, cola and black-cherry flavors. Super fresh and plenty of potential. Try in 2022.-JS

Inky ruby. Black and blue fruits, olive, peony, incense and smoky mineral qualities on the deeply perfumed nose. Palate-staining blueberry, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors become more energetic with air and take on licorice and exotic spice notes on the back half. Rich but lively as well, finishing with emphatic back-end cut on a strikingly long finish that features fine-grained tannins and lingering floral and spice notes. This is an extremely impressive example of Saint-Joseph from the northern sector of the appellation, and while it should deliver plenty of upfront appeal, it's also balanced to age gracefully. -JR

The 2016 Saint Joseph Les Serines is a beautiful wine that spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. Lots of blueberries, cassis, crushed violets, and damp rock notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, supple, elegant Syrah that has terrific balance and building tannins. It shines for its purity of fruit as well as its balance, and will keep for 10-12 years.-JD