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france: rhone

Château de Saint Cosme, Gigondas

Château de Saint Cosme, Gigondas

Situated in the heart of the appellation (300 meters from the village), Saint Cosme is the oldest estate in Gigondas, with Gallo-Roman fermentation vats perfectly preserved in its cellar, carved into the rock. The estate has been in the Barruol family since 1490. Louis Barruol represents the 14th generation of Barruol winemakers. Louis took over from his father in 1995. He stopped selling so much wine off to négociants, began harvesting less and later and extending fermentations. He knocked off all fining, filtering, and excessive use of SO2. The result has been a series of accolades from the world-over. Stephen Tanzer called him one of the two best winemakers in Gigondas, and in his February 2003 issue (#145) Robert Parker wrote: "I was probably remiss in not listing Louis Barruol as one of The Wine Advocate Personalities of the Year."

Louis' father had the foresight to plant early ripening Syrah in Saint Cosme's latest ripening sites, thus Louis is regularly able to harvest and co-ferment Syrah and Grenache together. In addition to his classic Gigondas, every year Louis makes a luxury cuvée named Valbelle from his oldest vines (somewhere in the 90-year range) in barrel—half new, half 2nd year—but this is bottled separately only in the top years. With the '03 vintage, he bottled a wine he calls Hominis Fides (a reward for loyal importers and distributors) from the domaine's oldest vineyard parcel, and he has continued this separate bottling with both the '04 and '05 vintages. Valbelle is a blend of several terroirs; Hominis Fides is a specific terroir. Louis considers them equals in quality, but different in perspective.

Château de Saint Cosme Estate Wines

2004 Gigondas: 70% Grenache; 28% Syrah; 2% Cinsault; 70% aged in new and old barrels for one year with remaining 30% aged in vat. While the 2003 vintage produced powerful wines, 2004 appears to be a vintage of classic balance.

2004 Gigondas Valbelle: 80% Grenache; 20% Syrah; aged one year in half new, half one-year-old barrels. Louis co-ferments fruit from several of the domaine's diverse old vine terroirs, the youngest vines being about 80-years-old.

2004 Gigondas Hominis Fides: 90% Grenache; 10% Syrah; aged twelve months in three-year-old barrels. Made from a specific lieu-dit with the domaine's oldest vines. Louis refers to this wine as the Gigondas of his grandfathers.

The full line of wines from Saint Cosme