Château de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Côtes du Rhône 2023
A quintessential Côtes du Rhône offering beguiling complexity and vibrancy with lavender, gingerbread, orange blossom and raspberry layered with savoury nuances.
The grapes come from vines that are planted on clay hillsides made up of ancient alluvium soils, with Pliocene limestone marl and pebbles. The vines are planted on the Villafranchian terraces of the Côtes du Rhône, where they cling to the steep narrow terraces that are supported by low stone walls, some of threes terraces date back to Gallo-Roman times. The sun hits the terraces at the right angles for maximum energy. The vineyards are manually cultivated, with pruning, weeding and harvesting taking place by hand. The vines are certified organic.
The vinification formula used today is almost identical to that used by Louis’ grandfather until his untimely death in 1949. The varieties were co-fermented as whole clusters in old concrete tanks whose walls are 80cm thick, which provide amazing thermal inertia. Additionally, native yeast populations thrive within them and this ecosystem of native yeast within the winery is a fundamental aspect of the quality and identity of wines. The wines were vatted for six weeks, before being ageing in conical wooden tanks and concrete tanks. The wine was bottled unfiltered.
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.
