Domaine Courbis

The sophisticated, refined wines of Domaine Courbis, located in the Northern Rhône just north of Cornas, are the work of brothers Laurent and Dominique. Their 35 hectares of vineyards are dispersed throughout five Rhône appellations, including Saint-Joseph, Cornas, Saint-Peray, and Crozes Hermitage, with Dominique caring for the vines. Laurent is the winemaker.

The Courbis family has been involved in winemaking since 1587, but they didn't start bottling their own wines until 1980. It swiftly rose to prominence in the Northern Rhône, and their wines are the epitome of how cutting-edge vinification techniques can coexist together with time-honored viticulture and superior terroir.

Their complex Saint-Joseph, La Cotte Sud derives from the appellation's southern, south-facing slopes.

But the three Cornas cuvées they produce best represent the domaine. Only hand-harvested Syrah cultivated on the rocky slopes in the centre of the appellation is used to create these outstanding reds. While the two single vineyard cuvées Les Eygats and La Sabarotte are powerful, flowery, and produced in small amounts, Champelrose is a combination of vineyards that delivers excellent value for the money.