2021 Chateau Courac Cotes du Rhone Rhone Valley 750 ml

Château Courac is a star producer in Laudun—one of the southern Rhône’s hidden gems. The village has long been recognized by insiders for its quality, but was only elevated to cru status this year. Now it has joined the circle of AOCs—headlined by Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape—that occupy the top rung of the Rhône quality ladder.

This is an astonishing value, delivering deep red- and black fruit that prompted our wine team to declare it “a Côtes du Rhône that’s a cut above others” at our tasting panel. Our enthusiasm is backed by an impressive 95-point score from Decanter’s World Wine Awards.

Owned since 1995 by Frederic and Josephine Arnaud, Château Courac sits on the right bank of the Rhône river. Since the right bank is less subject to heavy winds, the grapes are less prone to dehydration. Coupled with the cool nights and soils that feature sand over clay, Courac’s grapes retain a freshness that allows for long hang times and plenty of concentration in the finished wines.

The Arnauds bring exceptional attention to detail in the vineyard: Cover crops are carefully selected to add nutrients and compete for water with the vines, driving roots deep into the earth. Leaves on the vines are pulled to increase airflow, while leaving the bunches in dappled shade—an essential move in a classic vintage like 2021.

Once the grapes are picked, everything is done traditionally. The Syrah-heavy blend is destemmed to promote rich fruit and silky tannins, while fermentation is kept cool to make sure delicate aromatics stay in the wine. The result is spectacular—truly a cut above.