Tasting like the blood of Syrah with its liquid blackberry, violets, flowers and peppery aromas and flavors, Yves' 2015 Saint Joseph les Serines is medium to full-bodied, seamless and silky, with high-quality tannin and a great finish. This cuvée comes from multiple terroirs and will spend 18 months in 40% new French oak.

Notes of black raspberries, toasted spice, candied violets and hints of flowers all emerge from Yves 2014 Saint Joseph les Serines (18 months in 40% new oak), which has medium-bodied richness and depth, beautifully pure fruit and present, ripe tannin. This is a classy, elegant St Joseph that will have a decade of longevity.

Also beautiful, with creme de cassis, licorice and hints of toast and spice (this cuvee will spend 18 months in 60% new French oak), the 2012 Saint Joseph Les Serines is medium to full-bodied, rich, textured and balanced. Possessing good acids, ripe, rounded tannin and impressive length on the finish, it should be an outstanding bottle of wine to drink over the coming decade. Yves releases two cuvees from Cornas, and I found the quality consistent in 2012, yet preferred the Vires release by a fair margin in 2011. There are three Saint Joseph cuvees in red: the Les Pierres Seches, which comes from sand and granite soils around the town of Chavanay; the L'Amarybelle, which comes from high density, terraced plantings of older vines; and lastly, the Les Serines, which comes from the oldest vines of the estate and is the only cuvee to see new oak. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant Ltd., Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990

A step up on the richness scale, the 2011 Saint Joseph Les Serines is medium-bodied, seamless and also finesse oriented, with fine tannin, beautiful purity and a classy, focused finish. Exhibiting impressive berry fruit, earth, and violet-styled aromas and flavors, this beauty will drink nicely over the coming 7-8 years. Yves releases two cuvees from Cornas, and I found the quality consistent in 2012, yet preferred the Vires release by a fair margin in 2011. There are three Saint Joseph cuvees in red: the Les Pierres Seches, which comes from sand and granite soils around the town of Chavanay; the L'Amarybelle, which comes from high density, terraced plantings of older vines; and lastly, the Les Serines, which comes from the oldest vines of the estate and is the only cuvee to see new oak. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant Ltd., Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990

Possessing a terrific northern Rhone bouquet of black cherries, olive tapenade, green olives and a touch of minerality, the 2006 St Joseph les Serines is another juicy, racy, lively red that’s drinking nicely today. Like with the Cote Rotie Terres Sombres, it has some elevated acidity, yet I like the balance here better, and it has impressive length on the finish. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.