Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2022
With full-bodied richness and an elegant texture, the exquisite notes of ripe black raspberries, mulled cherries, liquorice, and pepper lead to a seriously good finish.
The lieu-dit Hominis Fides was mentioned for the first time in 1902 and is one of Saint Cosme’s oldest vineyards. lt is formed of sandy limestone soils that come from ancient Swiss ‘fawn sands’ from the Middle Miocene dating back approximately 14 million years. These soils here have high limestone content. The bedrock, made of hard fawn sands, usually appears less than one metre below ground and in some places is flush with the surface, with a maximum depth of 500 metres. The combination of sandy soils and Grenache yields a uniquely textured palate and tannin profile. This vineyard benefits from the biodynamic compost that is fermented and used on the vineyard. Although Miocene sand is a prime type of soil, it is nevertheless low in organic matter and sometimes lacks physical structure. Hominis Fides is primarily planted to Grenache; however, it is also home to a whole array of ancient grape varieties, some of which are unknown. Louis’ grandfather would always replace vines with different grape varieties. Diversity within the same vineyard improves flowering and with a variety like Grenache, which usually has difficulty flowering, the purpose of this method is self-evident.
The cuvée was fermented with minimal intervention and wild yeasts. The wine was then aged for 12 months in French oak casks of which 20% were new and 50% were second passage and 30% were third passage. This wine is certified organic.
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Alcoholic strength | 15% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhône |
| Subregion | Gigondas |
| Grapes | Grenache 100% |
| Body | D |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | Yes |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Cork |
Steeped in history, Château de Saint Cosme is nestled in the southern Rhône appellation of Gigondas and has been in the Barruol family for over 500 years. In 1992, fourteenth generation winemaker, Louis Barroul took over the reins of the estate from his father. Today, he is one of the most highly respected winemakers in the Rhône Valley and is affectionately referred to by fellow winemakers of the region as the ‘Genius of Gigondas’. With great determination and flair, he showcases the great potential of the Gigondas terroir with his outstanding parcellaire cuvées from individual old-vine vineyard plots. The estate has great geological diversity, as it is exceptionally located at the crosspoint of two geological faults, which is very rare. Over the years, Louis has also established his own ‘negoce’ wines, seeking out the spirit of soils and vineyards, working painstakingly with small batch fermentations, advancing hand in hand with wine growers who love what they do, while adding that special touch. This has enabled him to explore and master different terroirs, from which he consistently produces pure wines with a precise sense of place, personality and balance.
