Paul Jaboulet Aîné Paul Jaboulet Aîné Saint-Joseph La Croix des Vignes 2015 750ml

Bright violet. Powerful black and blue fruit preserve, spicecake and incense aromas are lifted and sharpened by a strong, smoky mineral nuance. Stains the palate with concentrated, smoke-tinged boysenberry, cherry liqueur and five-spice flavors that become more energetic with air. Shows suave, seamless texture and finishes extremely long and sappy; chewy tannins build slowly and frame the intense dark fruit. (Josh Raynolds)

The 2015 Saint Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is more tannic than the 2016 but not better. Dry cedary notes frame cherry fruit in the medium to full-bodied wine that will require a couple of years in the cellar to show its best.