2020 Courbis St Joseph La Cotte Sud

The 2020 Domaine Courbis Saint-Joseph La Cotte Sud is a single-vineyard Syrah sourced from a prized south-facing hillside parcel in Saint-Joseph. Planted on steep granite slopes, the vineyard produces fruit with exceptional ripeness while retaining the freshness and minerality that define the appellation. The Courbis brothers have built a reputation for crafting expressive, terroir-driven Rhône wines, and La Cotte Sud is one of their most impressive and age-worthy Saint-Joseph bottlings.

The nose reveals blackberry, black cherry and blueberry alongside notes of violet, cracked pepper, graphite and smoked herbs. The palate is concentrated yet refined, combining ripe dark fruit with silky tannins, vibrant acidity and a pronounced granite-driven mineral core. Layers of olive tapenade, liquorice and spice emerge through a long, savoury finish. The 2020 vintage offers impressive depth and structure while maintaining elegance and balance.

Ben’s Recommendation:
A serious Saint-Joseph that beautifully captures the character of this exceptional hillside site. Complex, perfumed and built to age, it pairs wonderfully with roast lamb, duck, venison, grilled beef and wild mushroom dishes. Enjoy with a decant if drinking young, or cellar through 2038–2042 as it develops greater savoury complexity and nuance.