Château de St Cosme is a leading Rhône Valley producer. With its base in the appellation of Gigondas, St Cosme produces wines from both the southern and northern Rhône at all levels of the appellation ladder, acting as both a grower and negociant.
The real interest here is Gigondas, all made from low yielding estate-grown fruit sourced from 60 year old vines. These days, St Cosme produces five different Gigondas, including three wines that are produced from specific terroirs, as well as Valbelle. As such, Gigondas ‘classique’ is the entry level cuvée, but it holds up very well. Unlike the single terroir wines, it sees no new wood, and is aged in a combination of seasoned oak casks and concrete vats.
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, the 2001 St Cosme Gigondas delivers an alluring aromatic bouquet of lavender and violets, intermingled with a savoury meaty character and lifted spice. Although the wines of the southern Rhone can sometimes be badged as robust and even rustic, this mature Gigondas is wonderfully refined and elegant. At 10 years of age, it is drinking at its peak; it is an entirely convincing example of authentic Gigondas, an appellation which at its best can match Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
2001 GIGONDAS
Producer: Château de St Cosme
Variety: Grenache et al
Vintage: 2001
Region: Southern Rhône, France
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 10 March 2012
Tasting Note:
Medium garnet, fading toward the rim. Lovely aromatic bouquet, slightly floral (lavender, violet), strawberries, balsamic, meaty, star anise. Dry, medium bodied, drinking at its peak, tannins are fully resolved. Notwithstanding its origin, this is an elegant and stylish wine that displays the floral aspects of mature Grenache together with the meaty and gamey quality of Syrah. Lovely.
Score: 17/20
The real interest here is Gigondas, all made from low yielding estate-grown fruit sourced from 60 year old vines. These days, St Cosme produces five different Gigondas, including three wines that are produced from specific terroirs, as well as Valbelle. As such, Gigondas ‘classique’ is the entry level cuvée, but it holds up very well. Unlike the single terroir wines, it sees no new wood, and is aged in a combination of seasoned oak casks and concrete vats.
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, the 2001 St Cosme Gigondas delivers an alluring aromatic bouquet of lavender and violets, intermingled with a savoury meaty character and lifted spice. Although the wines of the southern Rhone can sometimes be badged as robust and even rustic, this mature Gigondas is wonderfully refined and elegant. At 10 years of age, it is drinking at its peak; it is an entirely convincing example of authentic Gigondas, an appellation which at its best can match Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
2001 GIGONDASProducer: Château de St Cosme
Variety: Grenache et al
Vintage: 2001
Region: Southern Rhône, France
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 10 March 2012
Tasting Note:
Medium garnet, fading toward the rim. Lovely aromatic bouquet, slightly floral (lavender, violet), strawberries, balsamic, meaty, star anise. Dry, medium bodied, drinking at its peak, tannins are fully resolved. Notwithstanding its origin, this is an elegant and stylish wine that displays the floral aspects of mature Grenache together with the meaty and gamey quality of Syrah. Lovely.
Score: 17/20
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