2018 Saint-Joseph Rouge Vignes de L'Hospice Guigal

Featuring pronounced violet aromas and spice-riddled red berries on the nose, the full-bodied 2018 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l'Hospice is eerily reminiscent of the 2015. It's full-bodied, plush and velvety, yet it retains great detail and complexity, finishing long and elegant.

This is packed with dark fig, blackberry and black cherry compote flavors, all wrapped in apple wood and bacony toast before ending with a swath of warm earth on the finish. Rock-solid, with range and depth for the cellar.

95P+: First made in 1998 (and 2001 was the first vintage made completely under Guigal) and from a gorgeous hillside vineyard located just behind the village of Tournon, facing Hermitage, the 2018 Saint Joseph Vignes De L'Hospice offers a vibrant, crystalline bouquet of cassis, cracked pepper, violets, and liquid rock-like minerality. I always find a Hermitage-like austerity in this wine, but the 2018 has wonderful ripeness, full-bodied richness, silky tannins (but plenty of them), and a great finish. Give it 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+.