2016 St Joseph Les Royes
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Opaque ruby. Pungent black raspberry and cherry preserve aromas are complemented by suggestions of potpourri and vanilla. Silky and expansive on the palate, offering spice-accented black and blue fruit flavors that show sharp delineation and back-end thrust. Juicy and seamless in texture, finishing quite long, with zesty, minerally drive and harmonious tannins.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
From a terrific vineyard on the southern side of Saint Joseph, the 2016 Saint Joseph Les Royes offers more finesse and elegance, with awesome notes of cassis, crushed violets, pepper, and spring flowers. Showing terrific minerality on the palate, with a tight, focused, oh so classic profile, it's a gorgeous Saint Joseph that will keep for 10-15 years. These 2016s and 2017s from the Courbis brothers are terrific follow-ons to their brilliant 2015s. The 2016 Cornas are some of the finest in the vintage and have sexy, ripe profiles that offer more pleasure than most. The 2017s are in the same ballpark, with slightly more upfront charm and approachability. In addition to the Cornas releases, this team is turning out some heavenly Saint Josephs!
(30% new oak) Youthful purple. Bright, mineral-accented black raspberry, blueberry, olive and violet scents are accented by a spicy topnote. Concentrated red and dark berry liqueur flavors show excellent focus and vivacity thanks to a spine of smoky minerality. Finishes long and smooth, featuring persistent dark berry and floral qualities, supple tannins and strong, mineral-driven persistence.
Aging in approximately 30% new oak, the 2016 Saint Joseph Les Royes comes from a limestone-based terroir. It’s plummy and supple, with cedar and vanilla highlights. It should drink well immediately after bottling in March 2018 and provide ample enjoyment for 6-7 more years after that.