Winemaker Notes
The wine shows intense blackberry and fig fruit with licorice, violets, and charcoal on the finish. It is remarkably fresh and finessed given the sun and warmth of the southern Rhône. The unique micro-climate combined with 60-year-old vines and traditional winemaking make Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas the benchmark wine of the appellation.
Grenache is the pale-colored, red-fruited, and potpourri-scented red grape variety of the southern Rhône and can be paired with both rustic and sophisticated dishes. Full-bodied Grenache-based wines are ideal with stews, braises, and grilled meats, while lighter versions can work well with dark fish and tomato-based dishes such as ratatouille.
Blend: 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah, 1% Cinsaut
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A cutting, mineral freshness and etching of char juxtaposes rich, almost inky, flavors of blueberry and fig paste here. While hints of blossom, spice and fur are enticing young, it’s a weighty, firmly structured Grenache-dominant blend (augmented by Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault) that should continue to improve well through 2035.
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Wine Enthusiast
A cutting, mineral freshness and etching of char juxtaposes rich, almost inky, flavors of blueberry and fig paste here. While hints of blossom, spice and fur are enticing young, it's a weighty, firmly structured Grenache-dominant blend (augmented by Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault) that should continue to improve well through 2035.
Cellar Selection -
Wine Spectator
Dark and winey, this structured offering packs red and black currant paste flavors together with threads of charcoal, warm stone, bay leaf and savory, ending with a long tug of cast iron through the finish. A blue chip for cellaring. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2035.
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Decanter
Great sense of concentration and vibrancy with acidity that is marked for the vintage and the oak well integrated. Extremely vibrant, dark fruited this year, damson, shot through with very fine tannins. All whole bunch fermented in concrete with natural yeasts, then aged in concrete, recently used barriques and some new ones (around 20%).
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Jeb Dunnuck
I thought the 2019 Gigondas was gorgeous, with a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated style as well as classic Saint Cosme ground pepper, mineral, cured meats, and assorted red and black fruits. It’s a powerful, concentrated base cuvée with the mid-palate and structure to evolve for 15-20 years.Best after 2022.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
The Southern Rhône region of Gigondas extends northwest from the notably jagged wall of mountains called the Dentelles di Montmirail, whose highest point climbs to about 2,600 feet. The region and its wines have much in common with the neighboring Chateauneuf-du-Pape except that the vineyards of Gigondas exist at higher elevation and its soils, comprised mainly of crumbled limestone from the Dentelles, often produce a more dense and robust Grenache-based red wine.
The region has a history of fine winemaking, extending back to Roman times. But by the 20th century, Gigondas was merely lumped into the less distinct zone of Côtes du Rhône Villages. However, it was first among these satellite villages to earn its own appellation, which occurred in 1971.
Gigondas reds must be between 50 to 100% Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre comprising the bulk of the remainder of the blend. They tend express rustic flavors and aromas of wild blackberry, raspberry, fig, plum, as well as juniper, dried herbs, anise, smoke and river rock. The best are bold but balanced, and finish with impressively sexy and velvety tannins.
The Gigondas appellation also produces rosé but no white wines.