St Cosme Vertical (@Lasse): Dark and intense black plum fruit combined with black pepper and roasted meat. It has a slight touch of VA but not in a defective way. It is very "open" and has a nice floral touch yielding both violets and lavender. Very solid and wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
30 minute decant. Medium plum-garnet in colour. Nose of herby red berry fruits with a touch of black pepper and tad of menthol. On the palate, there are noticed some black cherries, spiced plums with a few other peppery berries and touches of black licorice and tobacco; tannins are mostly integrated. Medium+ bodied with a medium+ finish. Last tasted April 2018.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finished the last half of a bottle I first coravined a year ago. Still fresh as the first glass. Firm tannins, nice red fruit and savory herbs. The 14.5% ABV felt well integrated, really only showing itself when there was some spice in my food. Two more bottles of this in my cellar, and I am in no rush to get to them, this feels like it has many years to go. Will probably check back in 2-3 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose had funk with mushrooms, garrigue with damp earth in the background to start. The second glass brought the fruit more to the forefront with lots of overripe cherries and a hint of tobacco. Palate is very ripe and full bodied with lots of fruit, and strong finish that showed off more of the garrigue and damp earth.
Tannins were well integrated already but could age a few more years, this is a great value for the quality and also a very accessible bottle for all levels of wine enthusiast.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at a private "Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas vertical tasting", including the vintages 2016, 2015, 2012 and 2010, first on its own and then with food.
This is somewhat less unique and shiny than its gorgeous and youthful counterpart, the vintage 2016. It also does not yet have the broad character of the more matured vintage 2010. However, this is anyway a great wine that is really enjoyable at the moment. It is full-bodied, intensive, fruity and structured, displaying pleasant and darkish notes of blackberry, dark fruits, coal, herbs and minerals. The tannins have already resolved, but they are still fully existing, contributing to a nice grip and kick on the mid-palate and aftertaste.
You can still store this wine, if you appreciate the qualities of more matured wines, but as a whole, this is great now!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely tight upon opening. It was more forward and juicy at age 3 so maybe it's in a dumb phase. After 3 hours in decanter it began to open. Crowd really enjoyed it but still seemed tight to me. I’ll wait two more years to open my next few.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really nice. Earthy nose with olive brine. The olive carries through the taste with a black fruit taste in the middle. Tannins are well integrated and the overall taste has quite a bit going on. A bit overpowered by some onion soup with bacon toast but it actually emphasized the fruit notes over the savory ones which was quite interesting. Picked up for $30 and would do so again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open for business after a 1hr decant. Vibrant raspberry, red plum, and morello cherry underneath cracked pepper, leather, and grilled meat. Florals lift the long finish. Really nice.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It could just be the bottle but I wholeheartedly disagree with the recent comments saying this is open for business. This is right as nails! Might revisit my comment day 2. Obviously a great wine with excellent structure, but I feel like a baby killer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is unbelievably good at the moment! The tannins have already resolved, but the wine is still clearly structured, and the rich and fresh fruitiness is still fully present there. The wine displays a beautiful aroma and flavor palette of blackberries, dark fruits, herbs, earth, black coal, iron and minerals. There is just an appropriate kick of tannins on the mid-palate and aftertaste.
I can't say, if this will get any better with age, since this is great now!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was drinking very nicely and I agree with a lot of the recent notes here. That said, I drank it over two nights and night one was better! Wild strawberries, savory berries, bright, very Provençal, especially on the nose. The second night was fine, more suave, yet less interesting, and had I had THAT bottle the first night, I might rate it lower. I’d also disagree that this is “excellent QPR”, at least in the Gigondas arena. Yeah, St Cosme is one of the main players but this bottle’s current vintage sells for $60-$70. There’s a LOT of dope Gigondas out there for half that money…
Ridiculously tasty. Great nose of garangue, sweet plum/prunes. Big on the palate Tart. Needs at least an hour decant. Amazing QPR. Has at least 5-10 more years to soften. Such a nice brake from CA.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted two hours in advance. Although Rhone isn't usually my favourite, this was a nice wine. This has lots of strawberry and violot, liquorice, garrigue, blackberry and leather. Quite intense and perfumed, with a medium + finish. A bit too much alcohol on the nose, which makes it feel out of balance a bit. Can drink now (decanting recommended), but this will keep as well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. Good to drink now, will still keep for a few years. Medium-to-full body. Rich, dense, many layers. Pepper, licorice, smoke, earth, black fruits. A little sharp around the edges, but very enjoyable. 92+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sadly the last of my 6 pack. Best bottle of this I have had thus far. Wonderfully balanced tannins out of the bottle. Some smoke and graphite. Notes of brambles and medium darker fruit coming through. Rich and complex. Great QPR. Still has time.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best bottle I've tasted so far. Needed an hour of air. Blackberry, candied violet, leather, river rock, garrigue, hint of charred wood on the finish. It has really benefitted from its maturation and all of the elements worked well together. Fabulous with grilled lamb.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In der Nase rotes, sehr fleischiges Steinobst, etwas Rauch, dunkle geschmorte Kräuter, viel Fleischsaft und sowohl etwas animalische als auch minimal unreife phenolische Noten. Außerdem gibt es sehr hintergründig aber immer präsent die typische Grenache-Syrah-Kombination von weißem Pfeffer in sehr reifem rotem Obst-Kompott.
Am Gaumen sehr saftig, mit ordentlich Gerbstoff. Der ist durchaus fein, aber nicht total glattpoliert. Durchaus also mit Struktur und Griff. Dazu auch hier mit sehr fleischigem und fleischlichen Biss.
Sehr gute Länge, unterschwellig immer mit viel Umami, kommt großartig zum Rumpsteak vom Grill.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Remarkable for it's balance with savory freshly cut ripe black and red fruit, cranberry, rose petal, mint, pepper. Great midpalate glides into a long and satisfying finish with nice complexity. This bottle was in a prime drinking window
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2015 Gigondas is a veritable spice-box, as cinnamon, cloves, Vindaloo curry and hints of cedar blow off to reveal dried cherries, dusty rose and hints of smoke. It fleshes out across the palate with ripe mineral-tinged red berries and licorice tones as nervous acids create a reverberation of tension. Violets and lavender resonate over a coating of black currant and olive as the 2015 finishes smoky and with a grippy, yet sweet tannic bite and leaves the senses aching for another sip. This wine is gorgeous today, yet with years of evolution still in store.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nice middle-aged wine with a balanced mix of fresh and dried fruit, animal, black pepper, and brown aged-wine aromas. Although tannins are a bit chewy, I think this wine is best drunk now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted half, two hours. Pretty well summed up by Apple813. Served with Beef Bourguinon. Went very well with food, though the wine itself really lit up on its own and full array of flavors could pop for last third of bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2015 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas was ripe, spiced and well-balanced. The developing Southern Rhône blend was clear and medium ruby in colour without any sediments. Right out of the bottle, there were aromas of ripe dark cherry, strawberry, violet and garrigue herbs, like lavender, thyme and rosemary. Two hours of in-bottle aeration brought forth complexities of earth, black olives and black pepper spices.
The mouthfeel was dry and full-bodied, complemented with medium levels of balancing acidity and supple tannin. Flavours of kirsch, light roasted coffee and saline minerals persisted in a long, gently spiced finish. While the 14.5% alcohol was reflected in its richness and subtle spices, it was matched with flavours of ripe dark fruits and minerality. It exceeded by expectations by a wide margin, given that it was an entry-level offering of the Gigondas appellation of the producer.
According to the winery technical sheet, the blend was composed of 70% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 1% Cinsault. Whole clusters were used in the alcoholic fermentation. The wine was aged for twelve months in a combination of new (15%) and used (50%) casks, as well as concrete tanks (35%). The vignerons attributed the depth and salinity to the limestone marl and the elevation of the vineyard at 240 meters above the sea level.
Excellent appellation wine. Fig and blackberry notes with tobacco and earth tones - the funk is contained. Good for years to come but in good balance now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I found this to be over ripe and somewhat disappointing. Stewed plums, black cherries, garrigue and a hint of gypsum. The '16 is drinking fantastically.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Spectator scored this a 95 (agree!) and it was their #5 wine in 2017. Robert Parker gave it a 90 (disagree!). This is a great, fruity, complex wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finally ready to drink, it’s got rich cherry and raspberry fruit along with leather and pleasantly bitter spice. Lots of complexity that suggests further development. Good for at least ten more years.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Strong nose of manure. Lots of earthy flavors with a background of dark fruits. Not for everyone but if you like dirty, earthy Southern Rhone wines, this is a decent one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby red in appearance. Quite savory on the nose with rosemary, lavender, cigar, strawberries and dark cherries. Medium tannins (6.5/10) with a medium to medium plus body. Dry palate coated in cherries, pepper, tobacco and spiced herbs. Long finish. Drink till 2028.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a great wine. I like the breadth of the fruit, ranging from ripe blackberries to cranberries, as well as its intensity. There are touches of spice and gaminess, but this is mostly about the fruit right now. Structurally, I love the balance of sweet fruit flesh, acidity, and tannins.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I couldn't help myself. 1) I should've waited another 2-3 years to open this 2) I should've decanted or saved for day two. I couldn't do either, because this is fascinating and delicious, even if it's not close to fully singing. PnP, with initial notes of black currant, raspberry, and spice, and a wall of tannins settling in mid-palate. After an hour or so of air time, it starts to open up further, revealing smoke, barnyard, tar, and mixed herbs. Seriously good, albeit tight, and by hour two the layers of flavors were coalescing nicely. There was a touch of heat throughout, which was my only complaint. I can only imagine how great the 2015 single vineyard bottles are, because this Gigondas is excellent.
Unpleasantly bitter and disjointed out of the bottle, it took 2 hours to open up at all and for the bret to blow off. Even when it started to drink well it was a little hot with alcohol. Hoping it was just a bad bottle.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very young looking, purple, no sign of browning on meniscus. In mouth also youthful, primary fruits, spicy, still tannic. Great fun to drink, but I think it will be considerably better in 5 years or so. Rated on current taste (within the context of Gigondas), not potential. I'll be interested to taste in 2025, if I make it.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Age Gets Better With Wine or Wine Gets Better With Age?
So, in the first case, we all know I’m talking about me and in the second I’m talking about this episode of “Wine-Sum-More” and the wine I am reviewing, in this case for a second time.
Probably not on my Instagram pages as it was too long ago that I reviewed the wine, none-the-less, it was a wine that continues to shine.
Having a new recipe for Vegan Lasagna that I wanted to have a go at, I started looking around for a wine that would bring out the food, albeit as foreign to me as it was in my attempts to eat more Vegan. My first thought was something Italian, obviously, but was really just looking for something with a little more of a rustic edge. Noticing I had multiple bottles of this exquisite wine in my inventory, it was done.
As for the wine, and as was the case a couple of years ago and as mentioned above, the wine did, in fact, shine. Still rich with dark and rustic red fruit with a savory edge, the wine also brought forth spice notes that continued well in to the long and pleasurable finish. It was a perfect match for the dinner, although while the dinner was lovely, the wine still took center stage.
The wine a blend of 70% Grenache - 14% Syrah – 15% Mourvèdre - 1% Cinsault and undergoing whole cluster fermentation then twelve months’ aging with 15% in new casks - 50% in casks used for 1 to 4 wines - 35% in concrete tanks, combining that with an excellent vintage and Excellent Reviews, the wine will continue to age gracefully and only get better, at least from what I’ve tasted in the last couple years.
Chateau St. Cosme is a consistent and quality producer whose wines I have enjoyed many times across many regions. Give em a try if you see them around.
Cheers
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has tightened up considerably since tasting it on release. By day 2 things were starting to open up, but if you can wait please do. That being said, this is clearly excellent wine in the making.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A couple of years in the cellar is already doing wonders for this wine; evolving from a wine with huge potential into something absolutely spectacular. This was a pop and pour situation from cellar temp (57°F) and I immediately knew we were in for something special from the first pour. The bouquet was supercharged. Black brambles, dark cherries, pepper, spiced cake, anise with nothing out of place. The palate was richly endowed with a similar fruit/spice profile. But I would be remiss if we also didn’t discuss texture because that was the difference maker here. I’ve always though Saint Cosme was amongst the most polished from the region but this takes it to a whole new level and positively masterful; leaving me left to admire the purity and freshness of the fruit. Far and away the greatest experience I’ve had with a Saint Cosme Gigondas and it’s crazy to think that 2016 could turn out to be even better. Only time will tell. Glad I have a couple more in the cellar. Wish the pricing wasn’t getting out of hand though.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very much in the style of the domaine with a concentrated, rich, creamy fruit - almost caramelized. Oak still very present of couse, but this is well build, seems to handle the vintage well, could be fine in 5+ years #HSA
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
medium ruby; cherry, strawberry, lavender, licorice, garrigue; muscular but with surprising freshness, 14.5 % ABV; blend of 70% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 1% Cinsault; great vintage, beautiful site near Chapel of Saint Cosme, #5 of Wine Spectator’s 2017 top 100 wines; $38
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The bottle was corked, unfortunately. This was really a pity, since the wine was still drinkable, and one could still sense, how great the wine would be without the flaw.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
90+ I did not decant the wine. However, I did open the bottle 1 hour before drinking the wine. The wine can age probably another 3 to 5 years. Nice fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really happy with this purchase. Just coming into its drinking window. May be good for another decade. Great representation of a Gigondas. Even better with food. Glad I have more especially considering the price.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherry, cassis, garrigue, cedar, spice box. Well balanced, lots of cherry, not as brawny as before. Improved over the course of the meal, should continue to age gracefully.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Green tobacco, rustic herbs, and blood sausage. Medium-bodied and intense, but not a rich wine. The tobacco/green persists on a long, tannic finish without being grippy. A definite robust food wine! Fine for drinking a big, young wine now, better in 4 or 5 yrs and beyond. A great value at $45-ish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious and lovely to drink now. I enjoyed the notes of white pepper and game that added complexity to the tasty red fruit. I kept marveling at how delicious and well-made this wine is. (These tasting notes differ significantly from my tasting notes of a few weeks ago.)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of concentration. Very fruit-forward with red-fruit candy sweetness. Not much complexity now. I'm hopeful that this will evolve into something more interesting given that I have five more bottles. I have enjoyed this producer's Gigondas wines in the past.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best wine I've had since Realm Cellars "The Tempest" in 12/18. Really meaty for a Gigondas, but also with loads of red fruit and spice. Long and tightly wound. Great wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tobacco, almost like licking a ashtray. Orange cest, salty ocean. At first it doesn't impress. But... it starts getting better by every zip. At the end you get some black currant and it's fantastic.
Edit 24/5-19: Drank a second bottle and very similar notes. Consistent.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A rich gigondas with a profile of ripe plum, raspberries, garrigue, and crushed stone. The tannins are abundant, but very finely textured. A touch of bitterness on the back end combines with a racy acidic streak to produce a pithy citrus note.
Unfortunately there’s a very slight musty note on the palate that is unpleasant. It’s undetectable on the nose, but obvious enough on the palate to make me think that the bottle may be very lightly corked.
Edit: that musty note dissipated over the evening and the wine became very enjoyable.
Friskt och kryddigt med mörka bär. Mycket komplex doft. FÄRG Klar? Ja. Färg: Mörk rubin. Kant: 2 mm mot vattenklar. Intensitet: Medel +. Färgar glaset? Nej. Gardiner: Medel.
First glass was massive fruit but, frankly, a bit of a klutzy mess. Make no mistake, there was substance lurking in the background but it was simply overpowered by brambles. Placed the cork back in the bottle and figured I would give it a day to see if things would settle down...and did it ever. Day 2 and the brambles we’re still there but now there was an entire hillside of garrigue and, in particular, fresh sage...like...I just mowed over a sage bush...and there was a spiced meat element too. Amazing. Structure? Good heavens. The tannins seemed to build and build all the way up to the final glass. These give the indication that they’re going to be drinking very handsomely well past 2025...and I suspect beyond. I would say the best is yet to come.
PnP, mostly blackberry bramble. Brawny, muscular, darkly brooding and fruit forward. Could easily improve a couple points as the rough edges are smoothed out.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
initially angry then settled down with more integrated fruit and earth than I expected by 3rd day fruit less expressive but more integrated delicious and a great qpr
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4 hour decant. Medium plum-ruby in colour. The nose is picking up some ripe cherries and raspberries, red currants, black chocolate, and some toasty vanilla. There are some fine grained tannins along the palate while I'm picking up a good concentration of black currants, black cherries, spicy plums, black peppers, and some smoky green herbs with espresso. Medium bodied with a medium+ finish. Very complex and the decant time really helped out a lot. I'd cellar this for a couple more years to see the evolution of this. 94+
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is young and needs time or at least three hours decanting. Three hours was the time at which it came together as a polished wine with raspberry and strawberry fruit, with new leather and a slightly funky edge. I liked the last glass a lot. I’m all for opening these now, but only if you can open them and decant well in advance. 92 for this tasting, but I could see this as a 94-95 point wine with time or a good long decant.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Super lækker Gigondas. Lidt lukket næse, men man fornemmer mørke kirsebær, brombær, solbær, sort peber, garrique og lidt metal. I munden er vinen overraskende god selvom den er ung. Kraftig med mørke bær og en god del peber. Fin balance og mærkbare tanniner samt en god lang eftersmag, hvor alkoholen/varmen dominerer - måske lidt for meget. Men et super glas vin allerede nu og alt tyder på, at det kun bliver bedre. Nyd den over de næste 5-8 år.
This was #5 on WS top 100 in 2017 and was rated 95. Comparing to those credentials I'd say it was brawny, a bit rough and lacked elegance. Candied cherry, smoke, and a bit of game. It is pretty full flavored with medium plus acidity. Mid palate holds up well. Just ok to me.
Double decanted. Black fruits are complemented with floral notes, fur, garrigue, and eucalyptus. Powerful, but nothing is out of balance. This is a seamless, beautiful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
lite blodsmak, lakrits doft med kryddor, bärigt och pepprigt, finns en svag nyans av alkoholhetta men inget som tar över, bra längd och prisvärt helt klart. Fördel att dekantera en timme åtminstonde.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind. This is very reminiscent of Rayas with its rush of red fruit, thyme, and spice. Broad-shouldered and muscular, yet shows whimsy and refinement. Very long and drawn out, then coaxes the consumer to keep coming back for more. The purity of the red fruit and the middle palate are legendary. Drink 2018 - 2038.
On a side note, this is a top ten winner for Wine Spectator, and I for once could not agree more. What a classic Gigondas
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
medium dark plum red, medium clarity, slight brickish hue Nose: plum, blackberries, tobacco, earth, vanilla, violets, dark chocolate, minerals, chalk, mushroom, thyme, touch oak Pal: cherry, plum, blackberries, red apple, tobacco, leather, dirt, vanilla, dark chocolate, earth, clove, silver, minerals, black pepper, thyme, smoke, tannins, oak Feel: full, earthy, rustic Finish: long TC8 (could be a 9)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mucha fruta roja y algo negra. Se va abriendo y sacando complejidad con el aire. Sencillo pero muy bien resuelto. Muy frutoso y con algo de suelo. Boca refinada, con jugosidad. Me gustaría pillarlo con unos años. No es un vino sorprendente pero hay un trabajo de equilibrio evidente.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is ready to drink now without decant - zero. Nice touch of sweetness just about balanced with acid bite. Not jammy, not fruit forward but a good shot of blackberry and lots of tingle firing off. Almost zinfandel like in character but lighter and still coats. Good spice, pepper and pucker. Short finish. Crowd pleaser. I think it will add some dimension on aging but I don’t get longevity out of this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gigondas Tasting (Roswell, GA): Was expecting a larger wine than the '14 but this wasn't the case, some reduction on the nose, a mix of white and black pepper, a nice freshness to the fruit, very purple but nice lift, very fine tannin, juicy and tasty and not the muscle bound overripe wine I expected.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
bright, black fruit and blueberry in the nose and up front with a good earthy core and a clean, slightly chewy finish that finishes just a little too soon. YUM.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a huge success and a wine to stockpile . Fresher than bosquets (which is a success itself). Really impressive balance fruit, structure and length. Relatively expensive for the appellation as a normal cuvée but worth every penny. Bravo. Update second and third night: the bosquets takes the upper hand and with more finesse perhaps. I bought both wines and very happy with my purchase 20 EUR domaine price
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/9/2023 - tdoyle@smcdslaw.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
A great balance of fruit (stewed prunes), with receding tannins while still maintaining balance and structure. Decanted 2 hours before drinking.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2023 - canan wrote: 93 Points
St Cosme Vertical (@Lasse): Dark and intense black plum fruit combined with black pepper and roasted meat. It has a slight touch of VA but not in a defective way.
It is very "open" and has a nice floral touch yielding both violets and lavender. Very solid and wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2023 - Dhunternm wrote:
Very solid. Great garrigue, fruit, structure. Even better second day.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2023 - AMC Eagle wrote: 94 Points
30 minute decant. Medium plum-garnet in colour. Nose of herby red berry fruits with a touch of black pepper and tad of menthol. On the palate, there are noticed some black cherries, spiced plums with a few other peppery berries and touches of black licorice and tobacco; tannins are mostly integrated. Medium+ bodied with a medium+ finish. Last tasted April 2018.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2023 - qtsam11 wrote: 91 Points
Finished the last half of a bottle I first coravined a year ago. Still fresh as the first glass. Firm tannins, nice red fruit and savory herbs. The 14.5% ABV felt well integrated, really only showing itself when there was some spice in my food. Two more bottles of this in my cellar, and I am in no rush to get to them, this feels like it has many years to go. Will probably check back in 2-3 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2023 - SlapTheBag Likes this wine:
Nose had funk with mushrooms, garrigue with damp earth in the background to start. The second glass brought the fruit more to the forefront with lots of overripe cherries and a hint of tobacco. Palate is very ripe and full bodied with lots of fruit, and strong finish that showed off more of the garrigue and damp earth.
Tannins were well integrated already but could age a few more years, this is a great value for the quality and also a very accessible bottle for all levels of wine enthusiast.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at a private "Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas vertical tasting", including the vintages 2016, 2015, 2012 and 2010, first on its own and then with food.
This is somewhat less unique and shiny than its gorgeous and youthful counterpart, the vintage 2016. It also does not yet have the broad character of the more matured vintage 2010. However, this is anyway a great wine that is really enjoyable at the moment. It is full-bodied, intensive, fruity and structured, displaying pleasant and darkish notes of blackberry, dark fruits, coal, herbs and minerals. The tannins have already resolved, but they are still fully existing, contributing to a nice grip and kick on the mid-palate and aftertaste.
You can still store this wine, if you appreciate the qualities of more matured wines, but as a whole, this is great now!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2023 - tdoyle@smcdslaw.com wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour + and fruit shown through. Well balanced with plenty of structure to last another 5+ years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2023 - jroberts86 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another bottle tried after 4 years. Good then, better now. Still has the strawberry, rhubarb, hint of menthol, but more integrated and softer tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2023 - Rabaja Likes this wine:
Definitely tight upon opening. It was more forward and juicy at age 3 so maybe it's in a dumb phase.
After 3 hours in decanter it began to open. Crowd really enjoyed it but still seemed tight to me. I’ll wait two more years to open my next few.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2023 - Stuart10er Likes this wine:
Really nice. Earthy nose with olive brine. The olive carries through the taste with a black fruit taste in the middle. Tannins are well integrated and the overall taste has quite a bit going on. A bit overpowered by some onion soup with bacon toast but it actually emphasized the fruit notes over the savory ones which was quite interesting. Picked up for $30 and would do so again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2023 - djjagdish Likes this wine: 94 Points
Open for business after a 1hr decant. Vibrant raspberry, red plum, and morello cherry underneath cracked pepper, leather, and grilled meat. Florals lift the long finish. Really nice.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2023 - anstruletz Likes this wine:
It could just be the bottle but I wholeheartedly disagree with the recent comments saying this is open for business. This is right as nails! Might revisit my comment day 2. Obviously a great wine with excellent structure, but I feel like a baby killer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2022 - lkilpio Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is unbelievably good at the moment! The tannins have already resolved, but the wine is still clearly structured, and the rich and fresh fruitiness is still fully present there. The wine displays a beautiful aroma and flavor palette of blackberries, dark fruits, herbs, earth, black coal, iron and minerals. There is just an appropriate kick of tannins on the mid-palate and aftertaste.
I can't say, if this will get any better with age, since this is great now!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2022 - kilja Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfect timing. Much more balanced and complex than 2010 vintage tasted in 2020.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2022 - Luap1111 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely wine. Nice and smooth from the start to the finish. One left and we'll give it a bit more time but not too much
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2022 - NCWW Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking very well now, should keep for several years still though
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2022 - La Ronde Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle was drinking very nicely and I agree with a lot of the recent notes here. That said, I drank it over two nights and night one was better! Wild strawberries, savory berries, bright, very Provençal, especially on the nose. The second night was fine, more suave, yet less interesting, and had I had THAT bottle the first night, I might rate it lower.
I’d also disagree that this is “excellent QPR”, at least in the Gigondas arena. Yeah, St Cosme is one of the main players but this bottle’s current vintage sells for $60-$70. There’s a LOT of dope Gigondas out there for half that money…
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/16/2022 - jfolbe wrote: 94 Points
Ridiculously tasty. Great nose of garangue, sweet plum/prunes. Big on the palate Tart. Needs at least an hour decant. Amazing QPR. Has at least 5-10 more years to soften. Such a nice brake from CA.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2022 - Peter Spijker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted two hours in advance. Although Rhone isn't usually my favourite, this was a nice wine. This has lots of strawberry and violot, liquorice, garrigue, blackberry and leather. Quite intense and perfumed, with a medium + finish. A bit too much alcohol on the nose, which makes it feel out of balance a bit. Can drink now (decanting recommended), but this will keep as well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2022 - Veg Likes this wine:
Lovely stuff. Rich and smooth. Drink over next few years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2022 - HU Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Good to drink now, will still keep for a few years. Medium-to-full body. Rich, dense, many layers. Pepper, licorice, smoke, earth, black fruits. A little sharp around the edges, but very enjoyable. 92+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2022 - spineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sadly the last of my 6 pack. Best bottle of this I have had thus far. Wonderfully balanced tannins out of the bottle. Some smoke and graphite. Notes of brambles and medium darker fruit coming through. Rich and complex. Great QPR. Still has time.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2022 - spineguy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same notes as previous.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/28/2022 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 93 Points
Best bottle I've tasted so far. Needed an hour of air. Blackberry, candied violet, leather, river rock, garrigue, hint of charred wood on the finish. It has really benefitted from its maturation and all of the elements worked well together. Fabulous with grilled lamb.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2022 - jpecht Likes this wine: 95 Points
delicious and complex right out of the bottle with notes of olive and maybe dark chocolate. Drinking fantastic right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2022 - MaJeKu Likes this wine: 90 Points
In der Nase rotes, sehr fleischiges Steinobst, etwas Rauch, dunkle geschmorte Kräuter, viel Fleischsaft und sowohl etwas animalische als auch minimal unreife phenolische Noten. Außerdem gibt es sehr hintergründig aber immer präsent die typische Grenache-Syrah-Kombination von weißem Pfeffer in sehr reifem rotem Obst-Kompott.
Am Gaumen sehr saftig, mit ordentlich Gerbstoff. Der ist durchaus fein, aber nicht total glattpoliert. Durchaus also mit Struktur und Griff. Dazu auch hier mit sehr fleischigem und fleischlichen Biss.
Sehr gute Länge, unterschwellig immer mit viel Umami, kommt großartig zum Rumpsteak vom Grill.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2022 - 6831 wrote: 93 Points
Remarkable for it's balance with savory freshly cut ripe black and red fruit, cranberry, rose petal, mint, pepper. Great midpalate glides into a long and satisfying finish with nice complexity. This bottle was in a prime drinking window
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2022 - spineguy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big and brooding. In a great place. Great QPR! PnP is fine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2022 - Eric Guido Likes this wine:
The 2015 Gigondas is a veritable spice-box, as cinnamon, cloves, Vindaloo curry and hints of cedar blow off to reveal dried cherries, dusty rose and hints of smoke. It fleshes out across the palate with ripe mineral-tinged red berries and licorice tones as nervous acids create a reverberation of tension. Violets and lavender resonate over a coating of black currant and olive as the 2015 finishes smoky and with a grippy, yet sweet tannic bite and leaves the senses aching for another sip. This wine is gorgeous today, yet with years of evolution still in store.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2022 - spineguy wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well now but still has years. Nice evolution over 30 minutes in the glass.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2021 - Kepos Likes this wine: 91 Points
round and elegant, red berries, fantastic quality
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2021 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 92 Points
A nice middle-aged wine with a balanced mix of fresh and dried fruit, animal, black pepper, and brown aged-wine aromas. Although tannins are a bit chewy, I think this wine is best drunk now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2021 - spineguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great dark stuff going on in this bottle. Brambles. Great refinement for price. Still young but drinking well now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2021 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted half, two hours. Pretty well summed up by Apple813. Served with Beef Bourguinon. Went very well with food, though the wine itself really lit up on its own and full array of flavors could pop for last third of bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2021 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 92 Points
2015 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas was ripe, spiced and well-balanced. The developing Southern Rhône blend was clear and medium ruby in colour without any sediments. Right out of the bottle, there were aromas of ripe dark cherry, strawberry, violet and garrigue herbs, like lavender, thyme and rosemary. Two hours of in-bottle aeration brought forth complexities of earth, black olives and black pepper spices.
The mouthfeel was dry and full-bodied, complemented with medium levels of balancing acidity and supple tannin. Flavours of kirsch, light roasted coffee and saline minerals persisted in a long, gently spiced finish. While the 14.5% alcohol was reflected in its richness and subtle spices, it was matched with flavours of ripe dark fruits and minerality. It exceeded by expectations by a wide margin, given that it was an entry-level offering of the Gigondas appellation of the producer.
According to the winery technical sheet, the blend was composed of 70% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 1% Cinsault. Whole clusters were used in the alcoholic fermentation. The wine was aged for twelve months in a combination of new (15%) and used (50%) casks, as well as concrete tanks (35%). The vignerons attributed the depth and salinity to the limestone marl and the elevation of the vineyard at 240 meters above the sea level.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6)
9/19/2021 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent appellation wine. Fig and blackberry notes with tobacco and earth tones - the funk is contained. Good for years to come but in good balance now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2021 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 90 Points
I found this to be over ripe and somewhat disappointing. Stewed plums, black cherries, garrigue and a hint of gypsum. The '16 is drinking fantastically.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2021 - JDB Likes this wine: 92 Points
PopnPour at cellar temp. On 1st sip , i like this . I like the slightly dirty world of Southern Rhône. More to come if I remember!!!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2021 - sbern Likes this wine: 93 Points
In great shape at this stage. Smooth, delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2021 - K&J Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wine Spectator scored this a 95 (agree!) and it was their #5 wine in 2017. Robert Parker gave it a 90 (disagree!). This is a great, fruity, complex wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2021 - pgm wrote: 93 Points
Finally ready to drink, it’s got rich cherry and raspberry fruit along with leather and pleasantly bitter spice. Lots of complexity that suggests further development. Good for at least ten more years.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2021 - Crunge wrote: 90 Points
Strong nose of manure. Lots of earthy flavors with a background of dark fruits. Not for everyone but if you like dirty, earthy Southern Rhone wines, this is a decent one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2021 - spineguy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same tasting notes as previous. Gave an extra point for QPR.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2020 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 93 Points
Medium ruby red in appearance. Quite savory on the nose with rosemary, lavender, cigar, strawberries and dark cherries. Medium tannins (6.5/10) with a medium to medium plus body. Dry palate coated in cherries, pepper, tobacco and spiced herbs. Long finish. Drink till 2028.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2020 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a great wine. I like the breadth of the fruit, ranging from ripe blackberries to cranberries, as well as its intensity. There are touches of spice and gaminess, but this is mostly about the fruit right now. Structurally, I love the balance of sweet fruit flesh, acidity, and tannins.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2020 - KimberJ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent earthy and juicy
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2020 - ziavino wrote: 95 Points
I couldn't help myself. 1) I should've waited another 2-3 years to open this 2) I should've decanted or saved for day two. I couldn't do either, because this is fascinating and delicious, even if it's not close to fully singing. PnP, with initial notes of black currant, raspberry, and spice, and a wall of tannins settling in mid-palate. After an hour or so of air time, it starts to open up further, revealing smoke, barnyard, tar, and mixed herbs. Seriously good, albeit tight, and by hour two the layers of flavors were coalescing nicely. There was a touch of heat throughout, which was my only complaint. I can only imagine how great the 2015 single vineyard bottles are, because this Gigondas is excellent.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/24/2020 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 94 Points
we all loved this wine, needs some air to blow off the initial funk, great gigondas
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2020 - Curton Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great balance. Warm vintage but stays elegant with fine tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2020 - Portland Seth wrote:
Unpleasantly bitter and disjointed out of the bottle, it took 2 hours to open up at all and for the bret to blow off. Even when it started to drink well it was a little hot with alcohol. Hoping it was just a bad bottle.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2020 - Karl Kellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very young looking, purple, no sign of browning on meniscus. In mouth also youthful, primary fruits, spicy, still tannic. Great fun to drink, but I think it will be considerably better in 5 years or so. Rated on current taste (within the context of Gigondas), not potential. I'll be interested to taste in 2025, if I make it.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2020 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Age Gets Better With Wine or Wine Gets Better With Age?
So, in the first case, we all know I’m talking about me and in the second I’m talking about this episode of “Wine-Sum-More” and the wine I am reviewing, in this case for a second time.
Probably not on my Instagram pages as it was too long ago that I reviewed the wine, none-the-less, it was a wine that continues to shine.
Having a new recipe for Vegan Lasagna that I wanted to have a go at, I started looking around for a wine that would bring out the food, albeit as foreign to me as it was in my attempts to eat more Vegan. My first thought was something Italian, obviously, but was really just looking for something with a little more of a rustic edge. Noticing I had multiple bottles of this exquisite wine in my inventory, it was done.
As for the wine, and as was the case a couple of years ago and as mentioned above, the wine did, in fact, shine. Still rich with dark and rustic red fruit with a savory edge, the wine also brought forth spice notes that continued well in to the long and pleasurable finish. It was a perfect match for the dinner, although while the dinner was lovely, the wine still took center stage.
The wine a blend of 70% Grenache - 14% Syrah – 15% Mourvèdre - 1% Cinsault and undergoing whole cluster fermentation then twelve months’ aging with 15% in new casks - 50% in casks used for 1 to 4 wines - 35% in concrete tanks, combining that with an excellent vintage and Excellent Reviews, the wine will continue to age gracefully and only get better, at least from what I’ve tasted in the last couple years.
Chateau St. Cosme is a consistent and quality producer whose wines I have enjoyed many times across many regions. Give em a try if you see them around.
Cheers
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2020 - anstruletz Likes this wine:
This has tightened up considerably since tasting it on release. By day 2 things were starting to open up, but if you can wait please do. That being said, this is clearly excellent wine in the making.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2020 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 95 Points
A couple of years in the cellar is already doing wonders for this wine; evolving from a wine with huge potential into something absolutely spectacular. This was a pop and pour situation from cellar temp (57°F) and I immediately knew we were in for something special from the first pour. The bouquet was supercharged. Black brambles, dark cherries, pepper, spiced cake, anise with nothing out of place. The palate was richly endowed with a similar fruit/spice profile. But I would be remiss if we also didn’t discuss texture because that was the difference maker here. I’ve always though Saint Cosme was amongst the most polished from the region but this takes it to a whole new level and positively masterful; leaving me left to admire the purity and freshness of the fruit. Far and away the greatest experience I’ve had with a Saint Cosme Gigondas and it’s crazy to think that 2016 could turn out to be even better. Only time will tell. Glad I have a couple more in the cellar. Wish the pricing wasn’t getting out of hand though.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2020 - beatles wrote: 91 Points
Very much in the style of the domaine with a concentrated, rich, creamy fruit - almost caramelized. Oak still very present of couse, but this is well build, seems to handle the vintage well, could be fine in 5+ years
#HSA
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2019 - adamanko wrote:
Needs time to open up but is pretty much just as good today as a year ago. Around 92 still.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2019 - ashikoh Likes this wine: 91 Points
medium ruby; cherry, strawberry, lavender, licorice, garrigue; muscular but with surprising freshness, 14.5 % ABV; blend of 70% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 1% Cinsault; great vintage, beautiful site near Chapel of Saint Cosme, #5 of Wine Spectator’s 2017 top 100 wines; $38
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2019 - lkilpio wrote: flawed
The bottle was corked, unfortunately. This was really a pity, since the wine was still drinkable, and one could still sense, how great the wine would be without the flaw.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2019 - Thorlamb Likes this wine:
90+ I did not decant the wine. However, I did open the bottle 1 hour before drinking the wine. The wine can age probably another 3 to 5 years. Nice fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2019 - smphelps wrote: 93 Points
I think this is a great wine. Very tightly wound and possibly entering a dormant stage.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2019 - jroberts86 Likes this wine: 91 Points
strawberry, licorice, medium tannins that will soften. Nice now, better in a year or two. Check back!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2019 - spineguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really happy with this purchase. Just coming into its drinking window. May be good for another decade. Great representation of a Gigondas. Even better with food. Glad I have more especially considering the price.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2019 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry, cassis, garrigue, cedar, spice box. Well balanced, lots of cherry, not as brawny as before. Improved over the course of the meal, should continue to age gracefully.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2019 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine: 91 Points
Green tobacco, rustic herbs, and blood sausage. Medium-bodied and intense, but not a rich wine. The tobacco/green persists on a long, tannic finish without being grippy. A definite robust food wine! Fine for drinking a big, young wine now, better in 4 or 5 yrs and beyond. A great value at $45-ish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2019 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious and lovely to drink now. I enjoyed the notes of white pepper and game that added complexity to the tasty red fruit. I kept marveling at how delicious and well-made this wine is. (These tasting notes differ significantly from my tasting notes of a few weeks ago.)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2019 - rmalloy wrote:
Lots of concentration. Very fruit-forward with red-fruit candy sweetness. Not much complexity now. I'm hopeful that this will evolve into something more interesting given that I have five more bottles. I have enjoyed this producer's Gigondas wines in the past.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2019 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 91 Points
A complete wine. Guarrigue, violet, dark red fruit, grippy still. Well balanced at this point. Should turn out great in 5 to 7 years
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2019 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 91 Points
singing in an early drinking window
an integrated sweetness especially the 2nd day showing some new world qualities
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2019 - smphelps wrote: 94 Points
Best wine I've had since Realm Cellars "The Tempest" in 12/18. Really meaty for a Gigondas, but also with loads of red fruit and spice. Long and tightly wound. Great wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2019 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 89 Points
first day tight and grippy
3rd day some fruit emerged and a nice sweetness that made this seem oddly new world
enjoyed by all
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2019 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 90 Points
delicious and early in it's drinking window
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2018 - adamanko Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tobacco, almost like licking a ashtray. Orange cest, salty ocean. At first it doesn't impress. But... it starts getting better by every zip. At the end you get some black currant and it's fantastic.
Edit 24/5-19: Drank a second bottle and very similar notes. Consistent.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Wine Spectator newbies; 10/18/2018-10/20/2018 (Marriott Marquis): Another grenache this time from the old world but definitely taking the warmer and more ripe approach. This is a bit candied as well. Needs more acid. Not quite my style.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2018 - poppacork Likes this wine: 91 Points
A rich gigondas with a profile of ripe plum, raspberries, garrigue, and crushed stone. The tannins are abundant, but very finely textured. A touch of bitterness on the back end combines with a racy acidic streak to produce a pithy citrus note.
Unfortunately there’s a very slight musty note on the palate that is unpleasant. It’s undetectable on the nose, but obvious enough on the palate to make me think that the bottle may be very lightly corked.
Edit: that musty note dissipated over the evening and the wine became very enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/1/2018 - Andybe Likes this wine: 94 Points
2 hour in karaf. 16-19 degrees. Excellent wine for the price. Very consistent. Still young !
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2018 - bugdoced wrote: 86 Points
liked by most, but disappointing to me with a lack of palate length
will try again soon
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2018 - Jonne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Friskt och kryddigt med mörka bär. Mycket komplex doft.
FÄRG
Klar? Ja.
Färg: Mörk rubin.
Kant: 2 mm mot vattenklar.
Intensitet: Medel +.
Färgar glaset? Nej.
Gardiner: Medel.
DOFT
Korrekt? Ja.
Doftintensitet: Medel.
Doft: Frukt - mörka bär - björnbär, vinbär? Kryddor - svartpeppar, lagerblad, rosmarin, enbär. Fat - svart te, choklad, vanilj.
Utveckling: Ungt men fullt drickbart.
SMAK
Torrt/sött: Torrt.
Syra: Medel.
Tanniner: Mycket, mycket finkorniga men med ungt bett.
Alkohol: Väl integrerad, kanske liten halkighet på tampen (14,5 procent).
Fyllighet: Medel.
Smakstyrka: Medel.
Smak: Frukt - mörka bär - björnbär. Kryddor - svartpeppar, rosmarin. Fat - virke. Mineral - stenighet.
Textur/balans/bubblighet: Nej.
Eftersmak: Medel med liten beska.
SLUTSATSER
Kvalitet: Mycket bra.
Drickabilitet: Aningen ungt väl? Kommer att hålla fint tiotalet år.
Geografi: Gigondas.
Pris: 350 kronor.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2018 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 94 Points
First glass was massive fruit but, frankly, a bit of a klutzy mess. Make no mistake, there was substance lurking in the background but it was simply overpowered by brambles. Placed the cork back in the bottle and figured I would give it a day to see if things would settle down...and did it ever. Day 2 and the brambles we’re still there but now there was an entire hillside of garrigue and, in particular, fresh sage...like...I just mowed over a sage bush...and there was a spiced meat element too. Amazing. Structure? Good heavens. The tannins seemed to build and build all the way up to the final glass. These give the indication that they’re going to be drinking very handsomely well past 2025...and I suspect beyond. I would say the best is yet to come.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
7/20/2018 - franinnyc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really good. A great everyday wine. Great price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2018 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP, mostly blackberry bramble. Brawny, muscular, darkly brooding and fruit forward. Could easily improve a couple points as the rough edges are smoothed out.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2018 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 92 Points
initially angry then settled down with more integrated fruit and earth than I expected
by 3rd day fruit less expressive but more integrated
delicious and a great qpr
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2018 - AMC Eagle wrote: 94 Points
4 hour decant. Medium plum-ruby in colour. The nose is picking up some ripe cherries and raspberries, red currants, black chocolate, and some toasty vanilla. There are some fine grained tannins along the palate while I'm picking up a good concentration of black currants, black cherries, spicy plums, black peppers, and some smoky green herbs with espresso. Medium bodied with a medium+ finish. Very complex and the decant time really helped out a lot. I'd cellar this for a couple more years to see the evolution of this. 94+
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2018 - Omar Khayyam wrote:
Tasting the November 17, 2017 new releases (små partier) at Systembolaget (Systembolaget, Stockholm): deeply perfumed and a full basket of berries of the woods. Good on the palate as well, bitter oaky finish. (86-89)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2018 - pgm wrote: 92 Points
This is young and needs time or at least three hours decanting. Three hours was the time at which it came together as a polished wine with raspberry and strawberry fruit, with new leather and a slightly funky edge. I liked the last glass a lot. I’m all for opening these now, but only if you can open them and decant well in advance. 92 for this tasting, but I could see this as a 94-95 point wine with time or a good long decant.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - JaredDetroit Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loving the robust flavor. Paired well with a baked cambembert cheese and a peppery cream of celery soup.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - JaredDetroit Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent wine and my first Gigondas. More of a medium bodied wine but very smooth after its had time to open up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2017 - Dinamarca wrote: 92 Points
Super lækker Gigondas. Lidt lukket næse, men man fornemmer mørke kirsebær, brombær, solbær, sort peber, garrique og lidt metal. I munden er vinen overraskende god selvom den er ung. Kraftig med mørke bær og en god del peber. Fin balance og mærkbare tanniner samt en god lang eftersmag, hvor alkoholen/varmen dominerer - måske lidt for meget. Men et super glas vin allerede nu og alt tyder på, at det kun bliver bedre. Nyd den over de næste 5-8 år.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/5/2017 - jimyeni wrote: 89 Points
This was #5 on WS top 100 in 2017 and was rated 95. Comparing to those credentials I'd say it was brawny, a bit rough and lacked elegance. Candied cherry, smoke, and a bit of game. It is pretty full flavored with medium plus acidity. Mid palate holds up well. Just ok to me.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
11/30/2017 - anstruletz Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decanted. Black fruits are complemented with floral notes, fur, garrigue, and eucalyptus. Powerful, but nothing is out of balance. This is a seamless, beautiful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2017 - BastardMontrachet Likes this wine: 90 Points
lite blodsmak, lakrits doft med kryddor, bärigt och pepprigt, finns en svag nyans av alkoholhetta men inget som tar över, bra längd och prisvärt helt klart.
Fördel att dekantera en timme åtminstonde.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2017 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted blind. This is very reminiscent of Rayas with its rush of red fruit, thyme, and spice. Broad-shouldered and muscular, yet shows whimsy and refinement. Very long and drawn out, then coaxes the consumer to keep coming back for more. The purity of the red fruit and the middle palate are legendary. Drink 2018 - 2038.
On a side note, this is a top ten winner for Wine Spectator, and I for once could not agree more. What a classic Gigondas
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2017 - Frijole wrote:
medium dark plum red, medium clarity, slight brickish hue
Nose: plum, blackberries, tobacco, earth, vanilla, violets, dark chocolate, minerals, chalk, mushroom, thyme, touch oak
Pal: cherry, plum, blackberries, red apple, tobacco, leather, dirt, vanilla, dark chocolate, earth, clove, silver, minerals, black pepper, thyme, smoke, tannins, oak
Feel: full, earthy, rustic
Finish: long
TC8 (could be a 9)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2017 - JimmyBubbles Likes this wine: 88 Points
Fuentegalana Party.
Mucha fruta roja y algo negra. Se va abriendo y sacando complejidad con el aire. Sencillo pero muy bien resuelto. Muy frutoso y con algo de suelo. Boca refinada, con jugosidad. Me gustaría pillarlo con unos años. No es un vino sorprendente pero hay un trabajo de equilibrio evidente.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2017 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is ready to drink now without decant - zero. Nice touch of sweetness just about balanced with acid bite. Not jammy, not fruit forward but a good shot of blackberry and lots of tingle firing off. Almost zinfandel like in character but lighter and still coats. Good spice, pepper and pucker. Short finish. Crowd pleaser. I think it will add some dimension on aging but I don’t get longevity out of this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2017 - Curton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Promising. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2017 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Gigondas Tasting (Roswell, GA): Was expecting a larger wine than the '14 but this wasn't the case, some reduction on the nose, a mix of white and black pepper, a nice freshness to the fruit, very purple but nice lift, very fine tannin, juicy and tasty and not the muscle bound overripe wine I expected.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
I like that and so does Susie. That is delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2017 - oropeza Likes this wine: 90 Points
bright, black fruit and blueberry in the nose and up front with a good earthy core and a clean, slightly chewy finish that finishes just a little too soon. YUM.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2017 - Roughl Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a huge success and a wine to stockpile . Fresher than bosquets (which is a success itself). Really impressive balance fruit, structure and length. Relatively expensive for the appellation as a normal cuvée but worth every penny. Bravo. Update second and third night: the bosquets takes the upper hand and with more finesse perhaps. I bought both wines and very happy with my purchase 20 EUR domaine price
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment