2018 St Joseph

Assertively perfumed dark berry, cherry and licorice aromas are sharpened by black pepper and mineral flourishes. Silky, energetic blueberry and bitter cherry flavors turn sweeter in the glass and pick up a smoky flourish on the back half. Firms up steadily with air and finishes spicy and quite long, displaying even tannins and a resonating blackberry quality.

Youthful purple. Highly perfumed aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, potpourri and smoky minerals. Seamless and alluringly sweet, offering densely dark berry liqueur, licorice candy and floral pastille flavors and a touch of smokiness that emerges on the back half. Finishes broad and extremely long, featuring harmonious tannins and strong florality.

Moving to the reds, the 2018 Saint Joseph has classic Northern Rhône notes of spring flowers, smoked game, and bacon fat as well as beautiful raspberry and currant fruits. It actually reminds me of a Côte Rôtie and is medium to full-bodied, has silky tannins, and displays beautiful balance. One of the insider-only producers in Condrieu is Andre Perret, who has a tiny cellar just south of the village of Condrieu. His whites are consistently at the top of the heap in the Northern Rhône, and his reds rarely get the credit and recognition they deserve. You can’t go wrong with any of these wines, and if you have tried a wine from Perret, get out there and find a bottle!