The 2014s are certainly high quality and are perfect for drinking while you wait on the 2015s to get a touch of bottle age. A more modern-styled beauty, with lots of ripe black fruits, toasty oak, licorice and smoked meats, the 2014 Saint Joseph Esprit de Granit is medium-bodied, nicely textured and concentrated, with ripe tannin and a terrific finish. It's another impressive wine from this co-op.

From the granite soils on the western side of the Rh?ne River, the 2013 St Joseph Esprit de Granit is another sensational wine from what I increasingly think of as one of the best co-ops in the world. Powdered rock, black currants, licorice and wood smoke emerge from this medium plus-bodied, elegant and fresh Saint Joseph that continue to gain depth and richness with time in the glass. Aged 12 months in 50% new French oak and bottled without finning or filtration, it’s a rock star from an up and coming appellation. Give it a few years in the cellar and enjoy bottles over the following decade.

The 2012 Saint Joseph Esprit de Granit is a borderline outstanding 100% Syrah that saw 12-14 months in 66% new oak barrels. It exhibits lots of jammy raspberry, crème de cassis, licorice and dried flowers to go with a medium-bodied, supple, elegant and lightly textured style. Excelling for its purity and elegance, drink it over the coming 5-6 years.

Solid on all accounts, the 2011 Saint Joseph Esprit de Granit is a beautiful effort that reveals classic black currants, cassis, and raspberry intermixed with distinct minerality, crushed rock and hints of chocolate. Clean, balanced and beautifully proportioned, with medium to full-bodied texture and ample concentration, it can be enjoyed any time over the coming decade. I was blown away by this lineup, and it’s rare to find this level of consistent quality from a co-op. Part of the secret here is that, in addition to requiring long-term contracts, paying for the quality of the grapes and owning their own vineyards, they also operate a state of the art cellar that allows them to process just about any size lot they choose. This is a no-expense-spared operation and the results speak for themselves. Looking at the 2011s, all of the Hermitage releases are impressive and show the vintage nicely. Importer: OWS Imports, Karl Runge

A serious wine, the 2010 St.-Joseph Esprit de Granite possesses some new oak as well as plenty of minerality, acidity and tannin. This full-bodied, powerful, muscular St.-Joseph needs 1-2 years of bottle age, and should keep for 10-12+ years. This cooperative located on the outskirts of the village of Tain l’Hermitage is one of France’s finest coops, producing some of the Northern Rhone’s most astonishing wines. They are reviewed below in the order in which I tasted them. I was knocked-out by the quality of their two cuvees of 2010 Hermitage. The Crozes-Hermitage selections are very strong in 2010 and above average to good in 2011. The 2010s rachet up the level of richness and intensity. The St.-Joseph cuvees are all strong efforts. No known American importer.