Domaine Courbis 2017 Cornas "Les Eygats" 750ml

The 2017 Cornas Les Eygats offers a more granite-driven bouquet of bloody blue fruits, liquid rocks, violets, game, and smoked meat. With full-bodied richness, integrated acidity, plenty of tannins, and more than enough fruit and pure opulence on the palate, this beauty needs 4-5 years of bottle age but is a singular, brilliant wine in every sense. This cuvée was destemmed and brought up in 50% new barrels.

Score: 96+ points -- Jeb Dunnock, jebdunnock.com, 2019

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Domaine Courbis’ modern, gravity-fed winery is located in the commune of Chateaubourg on the right bank of the Rhone, where the Isere river flows in from the east. This is the most southerly section of the St. Joseph AOC, with Cornas AOC next door. Brothers Laurent and Dominique oversee the Domaine’s 33 hectares of vineyard holdings, including some of the most highly regarded sites in Cornas. Fermentation is in sealed, temperature regulated steel vats and concrete tanks to produce the robust, fruit-forward, and polished style that characterizes Courbis wines; maturation is in oak barrels, with new wood reserved only for the top cuvees.