Domaine Courbis
Les Royes St. Joseph Syrah
St. Joseph, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
What a wine! This Saint-Joseph from Domaine Courbis, from the limestone amphitheatre they call ‘Les Royes’ within the appellation (look out for the Blanc, too), is a great success in 2016 and an incredibly moreish wine overall.
The nose takes little time to unfurl, showing generous aromas of fresh, cool blackberry, espresso, violet and a touch of iron. The fruit has a wonderfully pure feel - as though it’s been squeezed straight into the glass. The palate is equally forthcoming and way above what I expected. Ripe fruit combines with bold acidity and supple tannins to provide a very, very seductive mouthfeel, and a lengthy finish.
That vast appellation of Saint-Joseph can be very variable - but if they were all this good, it would stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Cornas, Cote-Rotie and Hermitage.
What a wine! This Saint-Joseph from Domaine Courbis, from the limestone amphitheatre they call ‘Les Royes’ within the appellation (look out for the Blanc, too), is a great success in 2016 and an incredibly moreish wine overall.
The nose takes little time to unfurl, showing generous aromas of fresh, cool blackberry, espresso, violet and a touch of iron. The fruit has a wonderfully pure feel - as though it’s been squeezed straight into the glass. The palate is equally forthcoming and way above what I expected. Ripe fruit combines with bold acidity and supple tannins to provide a very, very seductive mouthfeel, and a lengthy finish.
That vast appellation of Saint-Joseph can be very variable - but if they were all this good, it would stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Cornas, Cote-Rotie and Hermitage.
