St Joseph 2010: panel tasting results

<p>Lush, spicy, blueberry nose which has charm and vigour. Rich and fleshy, this is a broad, sumptuous style of St-Joseph that conveys the finesse of the granite. Plenty of finesse and length.</p>

Nose comprises smoked, red berry fruit with notes of the forest, graphite, sloe and macerated prunes. Vigorous and spicy, with a touch of pepper, it’s a hedonistic and somewhat indulgent example, but pleasing to every sense.

<p>Beautiful aromatics here; cloves, violet, blueberry, incense, laurel, Lapsang Souchong and plum. The texture is silky and the fruit quality bright and persistent with flavours of Indian spice, ripe black fruits and pot pourri. Long and luxuriant on the finish, this is most impressive.</p>

<p>Fine, subtle yet complex nose with lavender, blueberry, hints of violet and bay, and no shortage of ripe fruit, and just the right amount of meatiness. The counterpoint between sweet fruit and peppery back palate is impressive. Needs a little time to fuse.</p>

Forest floor and hints of clove and dark chocolate dominate the nose here, with touches of raspberry and mulberry. The creamy palate is southern in style, bearing garrigue herbs in its red stone fruit flavour. Ends with a kick and good fruit verve. Will sing more with time.

<p>Smoky bacon and blackberry aromas lead off, with life and an extra red-meat style depth. The palate is finely balanced, beautifully harmonious and has no shortage of pedigree. The tannins are fine, the acidity poised. Genuine St-Joseph &ndash; on the button.</p>

<p>Cerebral nose with floral and spicy notes to the black fruit, and a whiff of white pepper. Concentrated palate with a kernel of sweet fruit and lush, chewy tannins. Not fully integrated yet but has welcome swagger and persistence</p>

Nose has a deep, black, stone fruit air, with traces of oak, spearmint and laurel. Palate is full, shapely, spicy and complex, with vibrant acidity to balance the weighty, lush fruit. Not quite in harmony yet, but just needs some time.

<p>A powerful nose suggesting a concentrated and richly fruity wine which is spot on, as the palate is concentrated, with ripe loganberry and cherry fruit, plus enveloping, ripe tannins balanced by lively acidity. A down-to-business, complete, satisfying wine.</p>

<p>Attractive, spicy nose of cassis, loganberry, violets, blueberries and laurel. Has a sealed, baked layer of black fruit, plus a roasted, meaty aspect. Not much flesh or weight but has charm and authenticity, and the balance is impeccable; it should age well.</p>

<p>The nose mingles baked raspberry tart, brioche, Indian spices and black cherry with a lurking strength underneath. Fresh attack, sleek and concentrated, it&rsquo;s not yet fully unwound. A traditional style made by a good grower in a very good vintage.</p>

Spicy, seductive nose of juicy blackberry and an undertone of violet. Delicious and stylish with purity and finesse, the focus is on restraint, with a floral current through it and lots of energy. Needs a year to fine tune its elements, but has plenty of personality.

<p>Opulent plum and blackberry nose, with a meat stock note, violets and bacon reminding one of a C&ocirc;te-R&ocirc;tie. The palate is wreathed in expensive oak, but has considerable weight, concentration, length and power and a pleasingly peppery finish. Requires robust foods to partner with such as game.</p>

<p>Toasty, smoky nose, plummy and quite meaty. The palate is solid with good tannic grip and earthiness. Broad and sustained across the back palate, delivering an ample mouthful of plump fruit with touches of sage, laurel and beef stock on the finish.</p>

<p>Youthful aromas, divided between the red and black end of the fruit spectrum. The berry fruit is tasty, spread liberally around the palate, the juiciness the hallmark of the 2010 vintage. It&rsquo;s shapely and graceful rather than powerful, with a finely wrought tannic structure.</p>

<p>Black cherry nose, along with liquorice, damson, bay leaf, black fruits and a salty air. Rich, full-bodied, very concentrated, dense and forceful, with strong acidity to match the strength of tannins but without too much extraction. Very youthful but has fine potential.</p>

Ripe blackberry nose with red berry, nut, raisin and smoky touches. A modern-style Rhône with chocolatey tones, but it’s not heavy and has ample drive, with a tannic structure, but not in such a way to stifle potential from the natural granitic acidity and the ripe fruit.

Crushed blackberry nose – vibrant, with stylish oak and hints of laurel, olive and charcuterie. Sleek and polished, the palate moves steadily, with a gentle wash of black fruit, and an iodine tang in its late moments. This has good potential with elegant acidity completing the picture.

<p>Clear snap of red berry and hedgerow fruit aromas. Has charm, succulence and an almost ethereal Pinot-like character, entwined with more southern, warmer notes of cherry and orange grove with spice and pepper on the finish.</p>

<p>Pine needle, bacon, redcurrant, pepper and clove on the nose. Ripe, almost sweet, silky in texture, yet still showing attractive acidity, with lovely stony minerality underpinning the black fruit core. Vibrant and charming &ndash; a countrystyle wine with an agreeable sense of terroir.</p>