Chateau Courac Cotes du Rhone

We might presume that most of the top Old World sites are multi-generational legacies, remaining in the hands of ossified aristocrats served by dedicated minions. I suppose that’s true in some places. But most of the exciting things happen in Europe are the result of new blood; new folks like Joséphine and Frédéric Arnaud who took over this property in 1995. Northwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Arnauds have more than 200 acres of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, the latter a grape that has only, in the last two or three decades, become more typical of Côtes du Rhone blends. Again, it helps to add some new blood to these old places.