Delas Frères continues to fire on all cylinders under the guidance of Jacques Granges, who came on board as the head winemaker in June of 1997. Jacques also has the talented Claire Darnaud helping with the winemaking and, unquestionably, the top wines here are world-class in every way. In addition, the estate has just completed construction on a new cellar located in the heart of Tain l'Hermitage. In addition to the single vineyard, the estate is also a treasure trove of value wines, both from the Northern and Southern Rhône.

Matured half in new oak, the other half in second use barrels, the 2018 Saint Joseph Sainte-Epine offers up scents of cedar and vanilla set against a backdrop of ripe, dark fruit and spice. Full-bodied, rich and velvety in texture, it delivers all of the goods-concentrated fruit, ripe tannins, expensive oak-combined with the restrained power and refined elegance of its south-facing granite slope. Drink it over the next decade.

Deep ruby. Highly perfumed, mineral-driven aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, candied flowers, olive and exotic spices. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blackcurrant, licorice and smoked meat flavors that show sharp delineation and an emerging mineral quality. The blue fruit and spice notes drive an impressively long, chewy finish that's framed by youthfully firm, slowly building tannins.