Owner/winemaker Jerome Coursodon with his wines
This is one of the most excitinig Northern Rhone wines I have tasted in a long while. I should have offered this long ago but somehow, maybe because of the very limited quantity, I never got it out there. This is not to be missed and in the rarified world of Cote Rotie and Hermitage it is a wonderful value for the best in Northern Rhone Syrah based bottlings.
I cannot recommend this enough - get some while it is still available. There are only a few cases of each wine available. (See below)
The Northern Rhones were fabulous in
2006! And, Domaine Coursodon, as usual,
with young, owner/winemaker Jerome at the
helm, has produced two amazing St Josephs.
"I prefer the 2006 northern Rhone wines over
the more muscular, tannic 2005s." 92 for the
vintage! - Robert Parker
St Joseph has always been one of my favorite
wines in the Rhone. 100% Syrah, of course. It
is somehow rounder and smoother with softer tannins. Of course the vintage contributes to this and 2006 is drinking beautifully now. The Coursodon wines are some of the
best in the region. Everyone agrees:
"Plush, with alluring raspberry and currant
paste notes woven with mocha and bittersweet
ganache. The finish lets a tangy minerality
take over. Drink now through 2013. 2,500
cases made. - Wine Spectator 90
The vineyards of St Joseph cling to the
granite cliffs on the western bank of the
Rhone River. St Joseph is just across the
river from Hermitage. Just for perspective,
Hermitage reds command world market attention
and bottles are $150 and up.
In addition to the regular cuvee, Jerome
makes a spectacular wine which will knock
your socks off: Sensonne. They
started making it in 1997. There are less
than 350 cases made. The grapes come from the
southern portion of the family Le Paradis
vineyard and is made with 80% new oak. The
wine sits for 15 months on the lees which
makes it unbelievably concentrated and
fruity.
"The lees bring out the fat in the wine"
according to Jerome and I believe it. This is
a fleshy and sexy wine that will stick with
you for a long time after the swallow.
92 for Sensonne says Robert
Parker!
"Made only in the finest vintages, the 2006
St.-Joseph La Sensonne (4,000 bottles)
sees nearly 100% new oak cask aging, and
represents a modern version of Le Paradis
St.-Pierre. Full-bodied with fabulous extract
and richness, beautiful texture, tremendous
purity, and a layered, concentrated
mouthfeel, it is one of the appellation's
finest wines. Drink it over the next 10-15
years."
92 for Sensonne says Wine
Spectator!
"Toasty up front, with mocha and cocoa powder
notes leading the way for velvety-textured
raspberry and fig sauce notes. The long,
suave finish let's toast and spice linger.
Drink now through 2013. 250 cases made."
90-93 for Sensonne says Tanzer!
"Inky purple. Highly aromatic nose of red and
dark berries. Bracing strawberry and bitter
cherry flavors deepen with air and finish
with impressive spiced plum and creme de
cassis qualities. This got 80% new oak but
the effect isn't very pronounced today.
You've got to try this and now is the time
when the grill is hot. We all know steaks and
hamburgers need great Rhone wines!
Cynthia Hurley
To order just hit reply and let me
know how
many
cases.
Delivery will be immediate. This is limited - only
about 10 cases of each.
