Domaine Pierre et Jerome Coursodon, St. Joseph, Olivaie 2016
Appellation: St. Joseph
Region: Rhône
Country: France
Color: Red
Varietal(s): Syrah
About The Producer
The father-son wine making team, Pierre and Jerome Coursodon, are nothing but impressive. They are rising stars that need to be on your short list for the Northern Rhone. This dynamic duo (4th and 5th generation winemakers) work the steep inclines of St. Joseph with backbreaking care to produce astonishingly beautiful St. Joseph wines. They own 16 ha with 13.5 ha planted to Syrah and 2.5 ha planted to Marsanne and Roussanne vines.Terroir & Vineyard Practices:
The vineyards face south, south-east on the very steep slopes sitting in shallow granite soil. Old-vines that are Goblet pruned. High density planting. No mechanization is used, only manual work is permissible in the vineyards.Tasting Notes
The Olivaie is a generous and full-bodied Syrah and one of the greatest wines from the estate and St. Joseph appellation. Saturated dark crimson color with purple reflections. A concentrated nose of red fruits and spices. On the palate the wine has length and power, revealing silky tannins completed by a well-balanced structure. With cellaring the Olivaie becomes more rich and velvety, revealing great aromas.Vinification
Strictly manual grape harvest and with a first sorting in the vineyard. The grapes are brought to the winery in 40kg wooden tubs. The second sorting is done upon arrival at the winery with 100% destemming. Maceration and fermentation are made in open vats during 18 days with punching the cap twice a day. Ageing in oak barrels for 15 months (15% new oak barrels).Press
- 94+ points – Jeb Dunnuck: “Spring flowers, violets, lavender, and pepper notes as well as fabulous blue fruit characteristics emerge from the 2016 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie. Deep, incredibly elegant, and pure, it has the purest granite character in the lineup, stays tight and focused on the palate, with fine yet present tannins and good acidity. Destemmed and brought up mostly in neutral barrels (15% new), it's classic all the way.”- Jebdunnuck.com
- 93 points – Wine Spectator: “Dark and very focused, with a beam of blackberry and black currant fruit embedded with anise, singed alder and smoldering bay leaf accents. Alluring spice details through the finish add sparkle. Drink now through 2026. 350 cases made, 60 cases imported.” — JM, Wine Spectator
- 92 points – Vinous: “(20% new oak) Saturated ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented red and blue fruit aromas show excellent delineation and are complemented by suggestions of olive and candied violet. Sappy and nicely concentrated yet energetic as well, offering juicy raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become spicier as the wine opens up. Smoothly blends power and finesse and finishes very long and smooth, with supple tannins building slowly. Drink 2022-2029.” – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
- 91 points – Wine Advocate: “Weighing in at 14.5% alcohol and 20% new oak, the 2016 Saint Joseph l'Olivaie features a mix of dark, earthy notes that includes hints of black olives, clove, black cherry and rich loam. It's full-bodied and velvety, with a long, espresso-tinged finish. Drink 2018-2025.”- Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate