2012 St Joseph l'Olivaie

(all aged in barriques, 25% new): Inky ruby. Fresh blueberry and candied violet on the highly perfumed, spice-accented nose. Fleshy, seamless and broad, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors and a sweetening note of vanilla that gains strength with air. The spicy quality comes back on the finish, which clings with excellent tenacity and just a hint of tannins. These vines are now over 60 years old, according to Coursodon.

Showing some sweet oak in its jammy blackberry and plum fruit, licorice, and spice-drive aromatics, the 2012 St Joseph l’Olivaie is medium to full-bodied, fabulously rich, has no hard edges and sweet tannins that emerge on the finish. A forward and sexy Saint Joseph, drink it over the coming 6-8 years.||Covering 38 acres in the southern Part of Saint Joseph, this first-rate estate is run by Jerome Coursodon. While I wasn't able to taste any of his 2013s, his 2012s are all highly recommended. eRobertParker.com.December, 2014