The 2015 Saint Joseph Les Royes offers a similar, if not slightly darker purple color to go with additional minerality, tons of cassis, graphite and charcoal aromatics, building tannin, and a great, great finish. Like a lot of 2015s, it's charming and approachable today, yet has the tannin and concentration to cruise in the cellar. This cuvée comes from a six-hectare, full south-facing vineyard in the southern part of the appellation, and was brought up in a mix of smaller barrels.

The inky black/blue-colored 2015 Saint Joseph Les Royes from the Courbis team was brought up in one-third each of new, once and twice-used barrels. It offers sensational notes of crème de cassis toasted bread, licorice and pen ink in a massive, rich, concentrated, layered style that is shocking in its depth and richness. It's a crazy good St Joseph. JD