Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2012《ZTF256》

Château de Saint Cosme has been rising to prominence thanks to three top-tier single-vineyard Grenache vines—Le Poste, Le Claux, and Hominis Fides—from the family's 15-hectare vineyard. In just 10 years, the winery has rapidly gained recognition within the appellation, earning wine critics hailing it as a rising star in the Rhône Valley.

Located in the Gigondas appellation of France's Rhône Valley, Château de Saint Cosme is one of the region's oldest wineries. In 109 AD, Roman troops established a "castle" here, the forerunner of the winery. Twenty-five carved stone barrels still adorn the rock face of the winery, testifying to its history.

The winery was officially established in 1490 and has been passed down to the 14th generation, Louis Barruol. Louis was less than 30 when he inherited the estate, having long since failed to produce outstanding products and beginning to decline. Unwilling to let the family business fade into obscurity, Louis incorporated 15 old Grenache vines (average age 60 years) inherited from his ancestors into his winemaking, employing organic farming practices to fully express the extraordinary potential of the terroir and old vines. Louis's philosophy is to collaborate with like-minded winemakers, integrating the unique terroir of the vineyards with minimal intervention to create wines that express the purity and individuality of the terroir and possess excellent aging potential. By adhering to this philosophy, he has restored Château Saint-Cosme to a dazzling new brilliance.

The 2001 vintage of the same estate, "Les Deux Albion," appears in the third episode of the renowned manga "The Drops of God." In the comic, when the bottle was first opened, the female protagonist thought it had a diffuse aroma and was just an ordinary, cheap wine. However, after decanting for 30 minutes, it transformed into a "remarkable wine," giving the male protagonist the illusion of being transported to Bali, with "a variety of spices, different meats, and ripe fruits, dancers in sexy costumes, their hair and bodies adorned with acacia and honeysuckle petals."

Robert Parker was so impressed after trying the winery's wines that he called it Giondas' Le Pin (the forefather of Bordeaux's garage wines). The 2010 Gigondas Hominis Fides received a perfect score from Parker, and the winery has been listed in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines five times. The winery's classic Gigondas was ranked second in 2012 and fifth in 2017.

Gigondas has a long history of viticulture, dating back to ancient times. Veterans of the Second Roman Legion established the first wine estates, and the earliest written record of Gigondas vineyards appears in the 12th century. In 1591, the town law of Gigondas confirmed the existence of a wine trade. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Gigondas wines won numerous awards at agricultural competitions throughout France. Following the phylloxera epidemic in the late 19th century, olive cultivation began here. After two harsh winters, grapes reappeared in this area, a blessing in disguise. In 1971, Gigondas became the first Rhône Valley village to be upgraded to Grand Cru status.

Like other southern Rhône Valley appellations, Gigondas enjoys a Mediterranean climate, but it is relatively dry and hot. The Dentelles de Montmirail Mountains divide the region's climate into two halves: a cooler one and a hotter one. However, altitude also plays a significant role, and the climate is also moderated by the Mistral winds. Gigondas boasts 1,208 hectares of vineyards, producing approximately 3.7 million hectolitres annually. The soil is primarily divided into two sections. The riverbank, at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, is primarily terraced with alluvial soils rich in stony red clay. The north-south section of the Dentelles de Montmirail, above which three east-west gullies run, is also heavily planted with vines. The soil here is primarily composed of gray limestone, clay, and marl.

This Le Claux, dating back to 1902, boasts only 1.8 hectares of vineyard space, with some vines over 120 years old. Louis considers this the estate's "most Burgundian" wine, elegant and delicate, with notes of sour cherry and floral bouquets intertwined with spice.