2019 Courtois by Domaine Jaume La Grange Vinsobres 750 ml

Vinsobres is spectacular winegrowing terroir.

The French wine authorities recognized it in 2006, when they elevated the Southern Rhône commune to cru status. The Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel acknowledged it when they plunked down cash for a 60-acre parcel. And one of the most revered men in the Rhône, Château de Saint Cosme’s legendary Louis Barruol, ratified it when he staked his own claim, purchasing Château de Rouanne in 2019. 

But on our recent trip to the Rhône, we spent our entire Vinsobres visit with the Jaume family, who have been making wine there for five generations. The Jaume wines all blew us away, but none more than this one—especially considering the price. 

Named for the Courtois family, whose domaine the Jaumes acquired in 2003, it hails from 30-year-old vines and delivers in spades the character of the terroir: gorgeous red and black fruit aromas accented by swirling notes of fresh rosemary and lily flower, caramel, and black plum sauce. It punches far above its weight in complexity, but just happens to come at a Côtes-du-Rhône price.

The key to Vinsobres’ unique character is its position in le Nord du Sud—”the North of the South.” Forty kilometers northwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the sun is warm enough to ripen the Grenache—which must compose 50% of the blend—beautifully, but the climate is brisk enough for Syrah to retain the layered, herbal, iron-rich, granitic quality that makes the Northern Rhône ground zero for the noble grape.

Awash in Southern Rhône ripeness but accented with gorgeous Northern Rhône Syrah spice and minerals, this stunner of a bottle shows why Vinsobres is a favorite among savvy Rhône-hounds and red-wine lovers.