The Rochecourbe vineyard lies within the appellation of St.-Joseph in the northern Rhône. In the southern Rhône Grenache is the dominant red, and blends of up to 13 grape varieties are common. In the northern Rhône Syrah is the dominant red, and wines are often blended with small amounts of Viognier or Marsanne.

The climate here is cooler than in the south, and the steep slopes on which the vineyards are planted offer well-drained soils and exposure to the sun.
Owner Alain Paret carved his vineyard into one of the steepest hillsides above the town of St.-Joseph. Together with winemaker Edouard Labeye, he crafts a wine that is a blend of estate Syrah and “Serine”, an original clone of Syrah that is thought to be almost 20 centuries old. Rochecourbe, which means “the curve of the hill”, is perched high above the Rhône on slopes that exceed 40 degrees.

Alain Paret and his son Anthony own the Rochecourbe vineyard. It is a doubly-curved property, with 10 degrees slope at the top, 25 degrees on one side, and 45 to 50 degrees on the other. We must work very carefully on the steep slope, which is south facing with rocks just under the surface, and we use a caterpillar machine. This also keeps the soil compact. Despite the difficulty of working on the steep slope, it is the best sun facing.

The soil is very poor, with rocks under the surface that force the roots to go very deep and produce a strong terroir expression. We face the Rhône River, which is a very influential component in the microclimate. We receive very little rain – it is a continental climate, 2 hours from the sea, but it is very dry.

We have a lot of small stones in the soil, decomposed granite and schist. There is some dew in the mornings, but it is otherwise very dry soil. The stones also hold the sun’s warmth, and maintain that warmth at night.

The Serine is the original Syrah grape variety, all Syrah planted in the world is originally from Serine. Our clone was very strong. It is a small olive-shaped berry, with thick skin and always in small bunches. Serine gives spiciness, soft tannins, and is very subtle.

Rochecourbe does not offer aggressive tannins; we call it velvet tannin, a soft mouthfeel and middle palate. We do not fine or filter the wine. It has a good balance between wood and wine. Wood should never overpower the wine. It has white pepper, red fruits, balanced wood integration, soft tannins, and good acidity. Rochecourbe remains fresh.

For the Vineyard Wine Club we have tried to provide a selection that expresses our identity. The Rhône River is a link between the 20th century, the Middle Ages, and the Roman cultures. That river crosses many meanings, sensitivities, and the “big baggage” of history.