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Monday, June 3rd, 2024

Former Rank #5 Wine Spectator Top 100 Returns!

The First 100-Point Gigondas "Genius" Producer

Lowest Price in California

"Powerful, with steeped plum and cherry coulis merging with potpourri and charred garrigue on a ripe, lush palate. Packs a wall of iron that provides a ballast for the ripe fruit, while refined tannins build in intensity. Long and complex, with a gorgeous expression of place."

94 Points - Wine Spectator

"This rich and impeccably balanced Gigondas has everything we look for in the wines of this appellation. Very long, refined finish."

94 Points - James Suckling

The Greatest GSM Tasted This Year... Liquid SILK

Dear Artisans,

Today we have a new release from Chateau de Saint Cosme, a true Superstar of the Rhone. Chateau de Saint Cosme is the leading estate of Gigondas and produces the appellation’s benchmark wines. Wine has been produced on the site of Saint Cosme since Roman times, evident by the ancient Gallo-Roman vats carved into the limestone below the chateau. The property has been in the hands of Louis Barruol’s family since 1570. Henri and Claude Barruol took over in 1957 and gradually moved Saint Cosme away from the bulk wine business. Henri was one of the first in the region to work organically beginning in the 1970s. Louis Barruol took over from his father in 1992, making a dramatic shift to quality, adding a négociant arm to the business in 1997, and converting to biodynamics in 2010. As Vinous Media reviewer Josh Raynolds said earlier this year (before his untimely death in March 2023), "Anybody paying the slightest attention to Gigondas over the last three decades knows Château de Saint Cosme and Louis Barruol, who took control here in 1992." He pointed out that Barruol is the 14th generation of his family to care for this land and they still use the original cellar, built over 2,000 years ago! He continued saying "...these are consistently among the most skillfully and meticulously crafted wines in the Rhône valley. The standard of quality maintained by Barruol is as high as for any winery I know, anywhere. In recent years the domaine has issued what, for me, are the best wines ever...the flagship Gigondas bottling is an excellent value and delivers more bang than plenty of Southern Rhône wines that sell for twice as much, or even more." 

Cheers,

James Tran

2021 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas

Southern Rhone, France

94 Points - Wine Spectator:

"Powerful, with steeped plum and cherry coulis merging with potpourri and charred garrigue on a ripe, lush palate. Packs a wall of iron that provides a ballast for the ripe fruit, while refined tannins build in intensity. Long and complex, with a gorgeous expression of place. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2040. 930 cases imported." - KB (Dec 2023)

94 Points - James Suckling:

"This rich and impeccably balanced Gigondas has everything we look for in the wines of this appellation. What a wide spectrum of aromas with everything from raspberry to candied orange, plus a slew of delicate spicy notes and fresh Mediterranean herbs. I love the interplay of richness, fine tannins and lively acidity on the generous, but not expansive palate. Very long, refined finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold." (Apr 2023)

92-94 Points - Vinous:

"Deep magenta. High-toned cherry and blackberry aromas show very good clarity with black pepper and smoky mineral accents. Shows firm tension and a spicy cut to its gentle sweet red and dark berry, bitter chocolate and succulent herb flavors. Youthfully gripping tannins lend framework to a long, smoky finish that echoes the spice and floral notes. This is textbook Gigondas, raised in a combination of one-third concrete tanks and two-thirds large oak barrels, 20% of those new." - Josh Raynolds (Jan 2023)

92 Points - Decanter:

"There's a veneer of cola oak to the polished berry aromas. Quite sweet on entry, with unusually high alcohol for the vintage, but it's well balanced with the zingy acidity. Fairly small in stature, but ripe and has plenty of impact." - MW (Sep 2022)

90 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:

"Leading off the flagship Gigondas from this reference point estate, the 2021 Gigondas has a medium-bodied, soft, supple, nicely balanced, and elegant style as well as notes of ripe red and black fruits, peppery herbs, flowers, and spice, with a kiss of gaminess that emerges with air. I love its balance, it has good mid-palate depth, and it will unquestionably evolve for 15 years if well stored." (Oct 2023)

List Price: $65.00

Total Wine: $61.99

Lowest Price in California!

Our Sale: $49.97

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