Château de Saint Cosme, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2022

Overview of the Wine
Saint Cosme - located north to the village of Gigondas - is the most ancient estate in the region. Lying on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa which very probably already had its own vineyard, the estate's existence in 1416 is attested by a document mentioning the granting by Jean de Chalon, Price of Orange, of "land for the planting of vines on the Saint Cosme slopes." The Barruol's ancestors acquired it in 1570, and at the end of the sixteenth century built a splendid residence over existing cellars.

Château de Saint Cosme is the leading estate of Gigondas and produces the benchmark wines of the appellation. The property has been in the hands of the Barruol family since 1490. Louis Barruol took over from his father in 1992 making a dramatic shift to quality and converting to biodynamics in 2010.

Grape / Blend
70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah, 1% Cinsaut

Origin
Rhône, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The wine shows intense blackberry and fig fruit with licorice, violets, and charcoal on the finish. It is remarkably fresh and finessed given the sun and warmth of the southern Rhône. The unique micro-climate combined with 60-year-old vines and traditional winemaking make Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas the benchmark wine of the appellation.

94 Points - James Suckling
Precise, textured and lively with aromas of wild berries, blackberries, dried thyme, bay leaves, baking spices and dried flowers on the nose. Full-bodied with fine tannins. Dense and chalky with a vivid core of sweet berries and spices mingling on the mid-palate and onto the peppery, powdery finish.

94 Points - Decanter
Menthol notes and complex herbal essences. Soft, easy-going, the oak helps to bring some welcome polish and sheen, with well-balanced acidity. This is a successfully constructed wine in a tricky vintage, showing good winemaking.

94 Points - Wine Spectator
Expressive notes of pomegranate and raspberry show pretty lavender perfume alongside wafts of apple wood smoke and black pepper. Fine yet substantial tannins hold a firm grip, with graphite power building. Concentrated and firmly structured on a sleek, powerful frame. Tightly wound, this will be even better with a few years in the cellar. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Best from 2026 through 2037.

92-94 Points - Wine Advocate
A prospective blend of the 2022 Gigondas looks like one of the best ever from this estate, where proprietor Louis Barruol is continually striving to improve, particularly in the vineyards. It's impressively full-bodied without being heavy, showcasing wonderfully ripe black cherry fruit, a rich, velvety mouthfeel and a lingering finish.

Product size: 750ml