Jérôme Coursodon's Stunning Range of Red and Whites from the Historic Village of Mauves

The Coursodon family has true roots farming the granite slopes in and around Mauves back to the mid 1800s, and Jerome’s grandfather was one of the leaders of organizing the start of the St. Joseph appellation in the 1950s.

I’ve raved about the quality coming from this estate in the past, and the young Jerome Coursodon continues to deliver the goods in every vintage. All of his wines come from steep, east, and south-facing, granite soils located outside the village of Mauve, in the southern part of the Saint Joseph appellation.Jeb Dunnuck, December 2019

Arriving in the village of Mauves from the south, one first passes Domaine Pierre Gonon, then Jean-Louis Chave and finally Coursodon, all within a few hundred yards of each other. It’s a stellar trio of vignerons to be sure, with Jerome Coursodon not at the same level of stardom as the others, but he’s not too far behind, either. For consumers, it’s a good opportunity to purchase some top-flight Saint-Josephs before price escalation sets in. Coursodon seems equally adept with white and red, making three cuvées of the former (including a Vin de France blend of Viognier and Roussanne) and four cuvées of the latter.Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, January 2020

Jérôme Coursodon, with his father Pierre alongside, produces a stunning range of red and whites from the historic village of Mauves in the original sector of Saint-Joseph. When the Saint-Joseph appellation was established in 1956, it consisted of vines in and around Mauves, Tournon and St. Jean-de-Muzols, all dramatically steep slopes directly across the Rhône river from Hermitage. This is Syrah heaven, sharing the granite bedrock that makes up the terroir of the western “Les Bessards” section of that famous hill.

In 1968 the appellation expanded from the original six communes to twenty communes, stretching from Condrieu to Cornas. The new communes did not share the steep granitic slopes that made up the original six villages, instead consisting of a variety soil types of varying nobility. The Coursodon family has true roots farming the granite slopes in and around Mauves back to the mid 1800s, and Jerome’s grandfather was one of the leaders of organizing the start of the St. Joseph appellation in the 1950s. Today, Domaine Coursodon produces wines of incredible complexity, depth, minerality, and age-ability that compete with the best Syrah from Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Cornas.

THE INTERVIEW:

A TIMESTAMPED BREAKDOWN OF THE INTERVIEW:

0:00 – The Coursodon Family in Mauves

4:22 – Expansion of the Domaine by Jerome’s Grandfather Gustav

6:03 – 1972: Jerome’s Father Begins to Work with Gustav

8:11 – 1999: Jerome’s Beginnings at the Domaine

9:49 – The Development of the St. Joseph Appellation

15:48 – The 2019 Vintage

19:48 – The 2020 Vintage

21:47 – Vin de France Blanc ‘Etincelle’ [Viognier and Roussanne]

25:35 – Saint-Joseph Blanc ‘Silice’

30:11 – Saint-Joseph Blanc ‘Le Paradis Saint-Pierre’

34:21 – Saint-Joseph ‘Silice’

39:04 – Saint-Joseph ‘L’Olivaie’

42:04 – Saint-Joseph ‘Le Paradis Saint-Pierre’

THE WINES:

Domaine Coursodon VdF Blanc “Etincelle” 2019

Practicing organic • 70% Viognier, 30% Roussanne • High-altitude single site just outside the village of Mauves • Planted in 2013 • Decomposed granite (like Hermitage) that is sand-like in texture • 1 meter down is the same bedrock as Hermitage • West facing • Indigenous yeast • Yes malo • Fermented and aged in stainless steel

A blend of Roussanne and Viognier, the 2019 Vin De France Etincelle is an interesting wine that has Viognier-like aromatics of golden fruits and honeyed orange yet reveals more structure and focus on the palate, showing its Roussanne component. With wonderful purity, balance, and length, this is a gorgeous Vin de France that does everything right. It’s ideal for enjoying over the coming year or two.91 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph Blanc “Silice” 2019

Practicing organic • 100% Marsanne • From multiple steep parcels in the villages of Mauves, Tournon – the original heart of Saint-Joseph • 30+ year old vines • Grown on clay and decomposed granite • Southeast facing terraces • Yes malo • Indigenous yeast • Fermented and aged in stainless steel

The 2019 Saint Joseph Silice Blanc is a gorgeous white based on 100% Marsanne. Loads of stony mineral notes as well as white flowers and white currants define this full-bodied, rich, concentrated beauty. Remarkably pure, it offers subtle background oak, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This is another head-turning wine from this incredible estate. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade.95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph Blanc “Le Paradis Saint Pierre” 2019

Practicing organic • 90% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne • 50% from lieu-dit “Paradis” in the village of Mauves, 50% from the lieu-dit “Saint-Joseph” between Mauves and Tournon • Jerome calls lieu -dit “Saint-Joseph” a mini Hermitage • 80+ year old vines • Grown on pure granite • South and southeast facing terraces • Indigenous yeast • Yes malo • Fermented and aged in barrique (20% new)

Rich, concentrated, and powerful, with lots of honeyed peach, toasted bread, hazelnut, white flowers, and spice aromas and flavors, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered texture, solid underlying freshness, and a blockbuster of a finish. It reminds me of a top Hermitage Blanc. I’d give bottles a year in bottle and then enjoy over the following decade, but I suspect it will evolve for much longer.96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph “Silice” 2019

Practicing organic • 100% Syrah • From multiple steep parcels in the villages of Mauves, Tournon, Glun, and St-Jean de Muzols – the original heart of Saint-Joseph • 30+ year old vines • Decomposed granite (like Hermitage) that is sand-like in texture • 1 meter down is the same bedrock as Hermitage • East and southeast facing terraces • 15% whole cluster • Indigenous yeast • Fermented in cement and stainless steel tanks • Aged in 50% older barrique and 50% older demi-muids for 12 months

The 2019 Saint Joseph Silice has a fruit-forward yet concentrated style, offering beautiful red and black fruits, peppery herbs, lavender, and violet aromas and flavors. Pure, medium to full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it’s a terrific Saint Joseph in the making.91-93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Olivaie” 2019

Practicing organic • 100% Syrah • A very steep single lieu-dit at the top of the village of St-Jean de Muzols • 70+ year old vines • A cooler site close to the Rhône river • Pure granite, with very shallow soil • South facing terraces • 15% whole cluster • Fermented in large open wooden vats • Aged in 50% barrique, 50% demi-muids (20% new) for 12 months

Lots of crème de cassis, violets, and liquid rock-like notes emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with an elegant, seamless texture and just remarkable purity. It’s beautifully done.93-95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Domaine Coursodon Saint-Joseph Rouge “Le Paradis Saint Pierre” 2019

Practicing organic • 100% Syrah • 60% from lieu-dit “Paradis” in the village of Mauves, 40% from the lieu-dit “Saint-Joseph” between Mauves and Tournon • Jerome calls lieu -dit “Saint-Joseph” a mini Hermitage • 90+ year old vines • Grown on pure granite • South and southeast facing terraces • 50% whole cluster • Fermented in large open wooden vats • Aged in 50% barrique, 50% demi-muids (10% new) for 15 months

The 2019 Saint Joseph Le Paradis Saint Pierre is a killer wine in the making, with a monster nose of blackcurrants, pepper, crushed stone, gunpowder, and beef blood emerging from the glass. This is old school Northern Rhône Syrah in all its glory. Rich and full-bodied, yet tannic on the palate, hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 10+.95-97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

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