Eric & Joel Durand Lautaret Saint-Joseph

This has a nice creamy beam of raspberry and black cherry fruit kissed by supple toast and licorice notes. Really pure, with a showy iron edge on the long finish. Drink now through 2011.

Inky ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of blackberry and creme de cassis accented by subtle licorice. Smooth and sweet, with lush, sexy dark berry flavors and very fine, dusty tannins. Finishes impressively long and sweet.

Exhibiting a dense color, the 2005 St.-Joseph Lautaret is tannic, and displays new oak along with notes of crushed rock, flowers, and black fruits. It will benefit from several years, and should last for 12–15.

Modern-styled with evidence of considerable new oak is the 2005 St.-Joseph Lautaret. This wine has a deep ruby/purple color and a sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with hints of tar, vanilla, and blackberry. It is definitely a deeper, richer, more tannic and backward wine, and I think once the oak is absorbed, it will turn out to be outstanding. Give it 2–3 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 10–12 years.

Hailing from the Northern Rhone appellation of St. Joseph, this 100% French Syrah is monstrous and chewy; a deep, hearty red for cold winter nights. Currently a bit closed off at first, a few years of cellaring should allow this bombshell-in-waiting the opportunity to blossom. After a few hours of decanting, I was able to fully appreciate its potential. The rustic tar, black pepper and cola notes began to emerge, balanced by dense currant and black cherry fruits. The gamey elements of this wine suggest pairing with fresh-killed deer or wild boar — preferably in front of a stone hearth — seriously medieval!