Domaine Courbis, Saint-Joseph Rouge, Rhône, France, 2022

Overview of the Wine
The origins of the Courbis family estate date back to the 16th century. More recently, the brothers Dominique and Laurent Courbis have succeeded their father, Maurice, who was the mayor of Chateaubourg, their hometown.

All the grapes are harvested by hand and yields are kept to an average of 30 hl/ha. The fruit is 100% destemmed and the maceration period for the Syrahs lasts between two and three weeks. The wines mature in oak casks which are new or up to three years old. The red wines are fined with egg whites but not filtered and are bottled between two and three years of the harvest.

The wines of the Courbis estate are some of the most compelling examples of St. Joseph and Cornas being made today. The Courbis brothers have combined their long family experience with a modern style and this has earned them international recognition. Robert Parker sums it up in his book on Rhone wines: “Courbis is a name to watch in the Northern Rhone.” Courbis wines regularly receive rave reviews in Wine Spectator, International Wine Cellar, The Wine Advocate and Revue du Vin de France.

Grapes/Blend
Syrah

Origin
Rhône, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Mostly granitic sand with 30% planted on chalky-clay. Manual harvest in small boxes, destemmed, and fermented at low temperature in stainless steel vats for 12-15 days for maximum extraction. 15-20% aged in stainless steel, 20% in second-use barrels, 55-60% in 2 to 4 year-old barrel. Racked frequently and bottled after 14 months.

92 Points - Wine Spectator
An elegant red, with beautifully fresh blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors, plus an inviting violet perfume. Offers good poise and tension, with a spine of graphite that builds in intensity. The finish is lined with talc-fine tannins, with a waft of smoked mesquite.

Product size: 750ml