2019 Domaine Gérard Courbis, Vieilles Vignes, AOP Saint-Joseph

WSI95 Expressing the essence of hillside vineyards, the wine features savory aromas of smoked meat, olives and garrigue with hints of violets and blackberry. Concentrated red and black fruit on the palate leads to complex nuances of leather, graphite and pepper. The finish is long and smooth with feather-like tannins and soft integrated oak.
Domaine Gérard Courbis is based in the village of Mauves, close to the boundary with Cornas. The estate is now run by Gerard’s sons, Ludovic and Emmanuel. The wines are made very much in a traditional and elegant style of Northern Rhône Syrah to reflect both freshness and perfume, while retaining a lovely savory
edge. Once a producer of grapes for other producers, Gerard made the decision over 20 years ago to develop his own family wines. The estate’s vines average 40 years of age and are rooted deep in granite slopes in high lying terraces which can only be harvested by hand. Most of the estate vines are clinging to the famous Saint-Joseph cradle hillside – near the villages of Mauves and Tournon-sur-Rhône. The steep slopes benefit from exceptional drainage and sunshine.