2013 Chateau Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle

Chateau de Saint Cosme is just north of the village of Gigondas. It is on the site of an ancient Gallo-Roman villa. The 37-acre property has been owned by Barruol family for 14 generations and is today run by Louis Barruol. In 1997 Barruol also started a negociant business and in 2007 the estate built a new cellar. Chateau de Saint Cosme produces both southern and northern Rhone wines, including Gigondas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes-du-Rhone, Cote-Rotie, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Condrieu. It also produces the budget-priced label Little James. The estate’s signature wines earn high ratings from critics. Wine Advocate rated the 2010 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides at 96-100 pts and called it “a candidate for perfection…this deep, striking, exhilarating wine is one of the greatest Gigondas I have ever tasted.”

The Southern Rhône Valley wine region extends from Orange in the north through the communes Lirac and Tavel in the southwest. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Méridionales and it includes some of the best known appellations in France, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. The climate and landscape of the Southern Rhone differ significantly from the Northern Rhone. There are hot, often windy Mediterranean appellations near Nimes and the south, and higher altitude, relatively cool appellations such as Côtes du Ventoux to the east. Understanding the region can be confusing given that there are thirteen appellations and sixteen red and white grapes allowed for wines with appellation status. Syrah is grown here, but it is much less important than in the north. Grenache is the prominent red grape, though most red wines are blends of at least four varietals. Other commonly used red grapes are Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Muscardin. Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse and Syrah are also permitted. The primary white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc, though Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are permitted, as are Picpoul and Picardin. Of note is the Côtes du Rhone Villages AOC, which is only in the Southern Rhone. Though Côtes du Rhône AOC wine is made in both the north and south, the Villages appellation has stricter requirements for winemaking and is generally considered higher quality than simple Côtes du Rhône. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “There is a vast amount of enjoyment to be discovered in the southern Rhône…for these are some of the most sumptuous and pleasure-giving wines produced in the world.”