Winemaker Notes
Hominis Fides is typically the most elegant of Château de Saint Cosme’s three single-vineyard Gigondas. “Grenache grown in the sandy soil produces marvelously textured wines as well as extremely refined tannins; a very special and stylish wine,” says Louis Barruol. The wine features aromas and flavors of pepper, truffle, graphite, and smoke.
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.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Gigondas Hominis Fides is a step up, with a touch more density and richness. It's full-bodied, has a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, plenty of ripe, polished tannins, and a solid core of darker fruits, iron, ground pepper, and some garrigue nuances. A serious, age-worthy Gigondas, it’s going to benefit from bottle age.
Barrel Sample: 95-97 -
James Suckling
A dense, well-composed and muscular Gigondas. The nose expresses notes of sweet cherries, dried flowers, grilled herbs, thyme and orange peel. Full-bodied with fine tannins. It’s ample and so precise, with a silky texture at the center. Driven and lively, with a restrained power throughout. Spicy and vivid, with a long finish.
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Wine Spectator
Broad-shouldered, smoldering and black, this offers a densely packed coil of dark fruit encased in iron. Time in glass reveals peppery, energetic details, with smoked herb and graphite elements, but this still needs time to unwind. Black tea tannins and plum skin acidity carry this through the massive, lingering finish. Its opulence is well-matched by its fine structure and savory power.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Crafted entirely from Grenache Noir planted on sandy, calcareous soils, the 2022 Gigondas Hominis Fides reveals aromas of violet, dark cherries, lilac and pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated and layered, it's structured with a fleshy core of fruit, framed by a layered, dense mid-palate and controlled power, concluding with a long, mineral and ethereal finish. Matured 30% in new barrels, 30% one-year-old barrels and the rest in two-year-old barrels, the new oak is barely noticeable. Rating: 94+
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.