The 2019 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis comes from a parcel of vines in Mauves, with soils of red clay, decomposed granite and loess. It's a bit smoky on the nose, with scents of crushed stone complementing super ripe cassis and blackberry notes. Full-bodied, rich and velvety—like pretty much all of the 2019 reds from Ferraton—it finishes long and slightly chewy.

A disappointing sample, the 2018 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis comes across as having a bit too much heavy, dead-fruit character. It's full-bodied and velvety, marked by plum, chocolate and licorice, so it has some tasty components, but it lacks the vibrancy it's shown in previous years.

Scintillating aromas of violets, licorice and black cherries emerge from the 2017 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis. Located in the commune of Mauves, this lieu-dit features loess soils at the top, granitic soils through the mid-slope and sedimentary soils at the bottom. It's full-bodied, with a rich, supple mouthfeel and a long, velvety finish. A terrific effort.

Perhaps a bit closed down after bottling, the 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis seemed less effusive than when I tasted it last year. It's still a solid performer, concentrated and richly tannic, with mocha and cedar shadings over cherry fruit, but it lacks the drama of the 2015 and the forthcoming 2017.

The 2015 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Paradis, from a vineyard in Mauves, is a blockbuster that manages to be incredibly dense and rich yet pure, offering up notes of crushed stone, vibrant cassis and black olive. Full-bodied and tannic, the wine will require some cellar time to civilize it, yet it already shows hints of greatness in its long, velvety finish.