Saint Joseph Clos Florentin, J-L Chave 2018

Tasted in components. #1: high-pitched red and blue fruit aromas and flavors take on floral and exotic spice notes with air. Juicy and precise, with no excess fat and strong back-end punch. #2: bitter cherry and blackberry qualities show very good depth. Licorice and sweet cola notes linger on a long, chewy finish. #3: assertive black raspberry, candied violet, olive and cracked pepper character. Densely packed yet nervy, with lingering floral and mineral notes and gentle tannic grip. There's a lot of fresh fruit here, which I suspect will give the final wine plenty of upfront appeal, but I'll bet that it's balanced to age.

The medium to full-bodied 2018 Saint Joseph Le Clos Florentin comes across as a bit tight and closed at the moment, so give it a couple of years to relax before popping a cork. There are still hints of intriguing floral notes, plus a mix of plum and raspberry fruit, and ample concentration and length on the finish, so it should be a good bet for those consumers with a bit of patience.