Courbis

History of Domaine Courbis

The history of Domaine Courbis spans more than four centuries. The Courbis family appears in viticultural records as early as 1587, making it one of the oldest winemaking lineages in the northern Rhône Valley. Pioneers in the art of clearing and planting the steep hillsides that border the river, the family has passed down an ancestral know-how from father to son, built on patience, humility and a deep attachment to the land. The father of Dominique and Laurent Courbis was still clearing the abrupt slopes near the Rhône himself when his sons were children, thus passing on to them a taste for demanding, hands-on work.

Since the 1990s, the Courbis brothers have been at the helm of the estate, in perfect complementarity: Dominique manages the domaine, the vineyard and the winemaking, while Laurent oversees commercial development and the estate's reputation. While preserving the family legacy, they have brought the domaine into the modern era with an original parcel-by-parcel approach, pioneering for the region, and the construction some twenty years ago of a gravity-fed cellar anchored in the landscape. This dual commitment (tradition and innovation) has elevated Domaine Courbis to the rank of an unmissable reference on the right bank of the Rhône, celebrated by international critics (Wine Spectator, Jeb Dunnuck, James Suckling, Revue du Vin de France) and by the most discerning enthusiasts. In 2012, the brothers took a further step by crossing the Rhône to vinify their first vintages in Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Péray.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Courbis

The vineyard of Domaine Courbis extends today over approximately 35 hectares, on the right bank of the Rhône in Châteaubourg, in Ardèche. It is the most southerly vineyard of the Saint-Joseph appellation among independent cellars, and borders directly on the Cornas appellation. The parcels are spread across vertiginously steep hillsides arranged in an amphitheatre, where all work can only be done by hand. The soils are essentially composed of granitic sands (80% of the Saint-Joseph reds), combined with clay-limestone soils (20%), with a few granite parcels in Cornas. This geological mosaic is one of the keys to the estate's signature style.

The grape varieties are dominated by Syrah for the reds (100%), with approximately 18 hectares in Saint-Joseph and several exceptional parcels in Cornas. For the whites, approximately 5 hectares of Marsanne (95%) are complemented by a minority share of Roussanne (5%), both in Saint-Joseph and in Saint-Péray, where more recent parcels have been planted at altitude (250 metres). Vineyard work is rigorously parcel-by-parcel, with systematic green harvesting to limit yields and achieve optimal concentration. All harvesting is done entirely by hand, with rigorous sorting in the vineyard.

Winemaking at Domaine Courbis

In the cellar, Dominique Courbis applies precise and modern winemaking techniques, guided by a philosophy of purity and transparency. The harvested grapes are fully destemmed, then vinified in closed, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with fermentation temperatures carefully managed (30 to 32°C) to achieve maximum extraction of colour and aromas without tannic aggression. Pump-overs and punch-downs are carried out with great care, in respect of the grapes and the vintage. The recently built gravity-fed winery allows the juice to be handled gently, avoiding any heavy-handed treatment.

Ageing generally lasts between 12 and 18 months, primarily in Bordeaux barrels and demi-muids of varying ages. The proportion of new oak remains measured (around 25 to 35% depending on the cuvée, up to 50% for La Sabarotte) so as never to mask the terroir's signature. Fining and filtration are used sparingly. For the whites, pressings are gentle and fermentations take place partly in tank and partly in barrel, followed by ageing on the lees to obtain rich, complex and perfectly balanced wines. The Courbis signature is today synonymous with precision, polish, transparency of fruit and vibrant finishes.

The cuvées of Domaine Courbis

Saint-Joseph Rouge Domaine : the estate's classic blended cuvée, crafted from 100% Syrah sourced from several parcels on granitic sands. Deep ruby colour, nose of stone-fruit red fruits, smoky notes and fine spices, a fresh and rounded palate, balanced and powerful. A perfect introduction to the Courbis universe, ideal with poultry, beef skewers or stuffed quail.

Saint-Joseph Blanc Domaine : 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne on clay-limestone soils. Bright straw colour, nose of white flowers, yellow fruits and almond, a full-bodied palate balanced by a beautiful minerality. An elegant and deep gastronomic white wine.

Saint-Joseph Les Royes Rouge : an emblematic single-parcel cuvée, sourced from a true amphitheatre of 6 hectares, facing due south, at the border of Cornas. Vines planted on steep hillsides sheltered from northerly winds. A pure, dense and deep Syrah, marked by notes of dark fruits, violet and spices, with a powerful yet chiselled palate and excellent ageing potential.

Saint-Joseph Les Royes Blanc : the white version of the celebrated Les Royes amphitheatre, crafted from Marsanne. Golden colour, floral and warm nose, a fresh then deep attack, notes of almond, dried fruits and melted vanilla. A Saint-Joseph Blanc of very harmonious expression, ideal with cep risotto, rabbit in cream sauce, red mullet with fennel or foie gras.

Cornas Champelrose : a single-parcel cuvée from the lieu-dit Champelrose, at the foot of the hillsides. It blends a parcel of very old vines planted in 1919 (2.5 ha) with a parcel of around fifteen years of age (1.8 ha) on very poor, well-draining granitic sands. Aged for approximately 25% in new barrels, the remainder in one- and two-year-old barrels. A generous bouquet of black cherry and plum, a silky, sweet-spiced palate, built to evolve gracefully over a decade.

Cornas Les Eygats : a single-parcel cuvée sourced from a high-altitude parcel (approximately 250 metres) in Cornas, planted with Syrah averaging around twenty years of age. Vinified and aged with the same rigour as the other single-parcel wines, it captivates with its purity of fruit, freshness and chiselled structure — an airy and lofty expression of the great Cornas terroir.

Cornas La Sabarotte : the estate's Fine Wine, sourced from a 1.5-hectare parcel with a south-east exposure, on granitic sands and rocky outcrops, planted in 1947. Aged for approximately 18 months in barrels with a significant proportion of new oak. Deep flavours of black cherry, candied fig, sassafras and bay leaf, with smoky and savoury nuances that reveal themselves with age. An absolute reference in Cornas, structured for very long ageing.

Saint-Péray : a white cuvée crafted from Marsanne (with an occasional touch of Roussanne) from high-altitude parcels at 250 metres. Bright colour, nose of white peach, citrus and white flowers, a fresh and mineral palate, taut finish. A precise and luminous expression of Saint-Péray, a fine example of the estate's successful expansion on the left bank.

Crozes-Hermitage : since 2012, the estate has also been vinifying a Crozes-Hermitage Rouge in pure Syrah, crafted in the same spirit of precision and elegance. A pleasurable and fresh cuvée, ideal for discovering the Courbis signature on the other bank of the Rhône.

IGP Ardèche / Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah : single-varietal cuvée as a Vin de Pays, crafted from Syrah sourced from parcels not classified as AOC. Deep colour, fruity nose of dark fruits, a supple and accessible palate, spiced finish. An excellent quality-to-pleasure ratio, perfect for everyday drinking.

IGP Ardèche / Collines Rhodaniennes Blanc (Viognier or Marsanne) : a white IGP expression, crafted primarily from Viognier or Marsanne depending on the cuvée. Bright colour, aromatic nose of white flowers, yellow fruits and a touch of citrus, a fresh and pleasurable palate, ideal as an aperitif or with grilled fish.