2015 St Joseph La Cotte Sud
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Tasting notes
A new cuvée (or at least the first time I've tasted it), the 2015 Saint Joseph La Côte Sud offers a richer, riper style than the other Saint Joseph releases from Courbis. Blackcurrants, toasted spice, licorice and cured meat notes all flow to a concentrated, unctuous 2015 that has terrific fruit intensity and a great finish. The tannins are slightly more pronounced, but there’s tons of sweet fruit and awesome purity, all contributing to a gorgeous Saint Joseph that's going to drink nicely for a decade or more. The Courbis brothers have hit a home run with these 2015s, the finest wines I’ve tasted from this brilliant estate. All three of the single vineyard Cornas are incredible wines, with the Les Eygats being one of finest Cornas ever made. The 2016s are also terrific wines that aren’t far behind the 2015s, and they’ll be approachable at an earlier age as well.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
This is the first vintage for this wine, sourced from granitic, south-facing slopes. The 2015 Saint Joseph La Cotte Sud is dense and nearly impenetrable. Hugely concentrated, with massive cassis fruit and waves of firm tannins, it will need a few years (or more) in the cellar to become approachable.
Sweet oak and fruit in equal measure – this is modern, ripe and rounded. Impressive heft and grain to the palate, very perfumed to finish. Combines generosity and classicism. (RH)
Vivid purple. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and violet on the nose. At once fleshy and energetic, offering juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors, and taking on a hint of smokiness and a touch of cola on the back half. Turns sweeter on the nicely persistent finish, which features supple tannins and lingering smoke and floral nuances.