2019 St Joseph Les Royes
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Tasting notes
Deep ruby. Aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla, licorice and pungent flowers are present on the nose. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, cassis and salty olive flavors that become sweeter on the back half. Finishes long and spicy, with a hint of smokiness and steadily building tannins. One-third new oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
More Hermitage-like notes of cassis, graphite, scorched earth, and burning embers emerge from the 2019 Saint Joseph Les Royes, a full-bodied, deep, powerful yet also focused and pure Saint Joseph. With incredible purity of fruit, good acidity, and flawless balance, it’s an incredible Saint Joseph to enjoy over the coming 15 years or more. It’s up with the finest wines from this appellation I’ve tasted.
Defined on the nose by scents of mocha deepening into espresso, the 2019 Saint Joseph Les Royes also boasts enough ripe blueberry fruit to balance things out. It's full-bodied and supple, marking a big difference in tannin quality compared to the domaine bottling, allowing this wine to appear plush and soft on the long finish.
Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented blueberry, cherry and a hint of cracked pepper on the powerful nose. Appealingly sweet in the mouth, showing impressive depth to the ripe, smoke- and spice-tinged black/blue fruit preserve flavors. Shows a building floral quality and solid thrust on the youthfully tannic finish, which leaves behind candied violet and licorice notes.