Antonio Galloni

"Opaque ruby. Powerful, mineral-tinged aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, candied flowers, olive and licorice, along with a smoky overtone that builds in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet, energetic black/blue fruit, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that show outstanding purity and mineral-drive. The spice and floral notes repeat emphatically on a strikingly long, lively finish that's shaped by velvety, even tannins."

Robert Parker

"I tasted several parcels that will go into the 2016 Saint Joseph, rating them all in this range. All were distinctive in their own ways, from the perfumed, floral notes and elegance of Les Challeys to the almost jammy cherry flavors of Les Oliviers and the dark-fruited precision of Le Clos."

Jancis Robinson

"Cask samples tasted at the domaine. They will be blended before release although some (eg Les Chailles) may be released as separate cuvees. Sample cuvee 1: Les Chailles. Wow, profoundly perfumed violet and meat scent. A touch of leather and liquorice. Divine purity. Exquisite black fruit. Truly outstanding. Sample cuvee 2: Les Chailles (different exposure). Fuller and richer with more leather and bitter herbal notes. Ripe, rich and ready. Sample cuvee 3: Bachasson. Peppery, blackberry fruit and bitter chocolate. Dense but not heavy. Less expressive than the Chailles samples but still delicious. Sample cuvee 4: Le Clos. Black fruit and bitter liquorice. Fine tannic paste on the palate. Fibrous, intense. Shows a certain rusticity."

"Alluring, with black tea and singed alder hints curling around a core of gently steeped black cherry and blackberry flavors. The very silky and refined structure carries the fruit through a beguiling finish, while olive, sanguine, iron and savory hints peek in. This expands steadily with time in the glass, boding well for cellaring."