Domaine Courbis 2018 Saint Peray 750ml

Pale yellow-gold. Intense, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, along with suggestions of white flowers, honey and tarragon that emerge with air. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering energetic pear, tangerine and honeysuckle flavors that are braced by a spine of zesty acidity. Finishes sappy, mineral and very long, showing sharp definition and lingering florality.

Score: 92 points -- Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 2020

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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.