2018 St Joseph Silice

The 2018 Saint Joseph Silice showed beautifully, with lots of black cherry, currants, peppery herbs, and violet-like aromas and flavors. It's a rich, medium to full-bodied, expansive, spicy Saint Joseph with more fruit and texture than most. I like it today, but it's going to keep nicely for 10-12 years or more.

Deep, brilliant magenta. An expressive bouquet displays mineral-accented red and blue fruits, along with subtle white pepper, peony and allspice flourishes. Juicy and penetrating in the mouth, offering lively cherry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that turn sweeter with air. Closes with subtle tannins and persistent red berry and mineral notes. Raised in large, neutral oak barrels.

I tasted three different components of the 2018 Saint Joseph Silice at the estate and then a representative blend as part of my blind tastings. The finished blend is very ripe, with black cherries, licorice and even some chocolaty notes, balanced by hints of crushed stone and black olive. It's full-bodied, rich and intense, with the potential to show a bit of warmth on the supple, velvety finish.