Deep magenta. Dark berry preserves, olive, cracked pepper and a hint of licorice on the fragrant nose. Offers supple, appealingly jammy blackberry, cherry preserve and spicecake flavors that become livelier as the wine opens up. Rounded tannins lend shape to a long, smoky finish that leaves candied licorice and dark fruit liqueur notes behind. This is a distinctly ample rendition of this bottling, and it will stand up to the richest, red meat preparations. Aged for two years in used oak barrels. -- Josh Raynolds

A step up, the 2018 Saint Joseph has a touch more density yet is still more medium-bodied, elegant, and balanced. Notes of black raspberries, violets, flowers, and ample minerality define the aromas and flavors, and it should evolve nicely for a decade.

Guigal's 2018 Saint-Joseph seems a bit sterner and more tannic than it did prior to bottling, but it still delivers complex notes of crushed stone, black cherries and espresso on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied and firmly structured on the palate, but it does soften a bit on the long, mocha-tinged finish.