2017 Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône

JebDunnuck.com

• By Jeb Dunnuck
  LE MILLÉSIME… The 2016s from the Southern Rhône (Part 2), 9/26/2018, (See more on JebDunnuck.com...)

  (Château de Saint-Cosme Côtes du Rhône Red) Login and sign up and see review text.

JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  7/7/2018, (See more on JamesSuckling.com...)

  (Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône, Red, France) Login and sign up and see review text.

RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  1/12/2019, (See more on RJonWine.com...) 91 points

  (Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône) Dark purple red violet color; aromatic, ripe berry, plum, black cherry nose; silky textured, rustic, black plum, blackberry, berry, garrigue palate; medium-plus finish

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Cosme (+Supreme Court Wine NEWS), 11/16/2018

  (Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone) Supreme Court Wine NEWS: The Supreme Court will hear a case early next year (Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Byrd) that has the potential to overturn the many state laws that bar consumers from receiving wine shipments from out-of-state wine stores, internet retailers, wine-of-the-month clubs and wine auction houses. This is the most important wine consumer case to come before the court in years. There is a critical effort led by WineFreedom.org to issue a wine consumer-oriented “Friend of the Court” brief so that the justices understand why this issue of wine shipping is so important to wine lovers. This amicus brief is to be funded entirely by consumers. Please consider taking a moment to help this effort. For our out-of-state list members, the benefits are obvious. For our in-state members, I’d argue that a free and competitive marketplace will ultimately increase competition and access, and eventually lead to lower retail prices. If you’d like to help, you can click here to donate via GoFundMe to help fund the Friend of the Court consumer brief. Thanks for your consideration! ----- Hello friends. Over the years, families build holiday traditions. Over the past six years, Full Pull has created one of our own: offering an excellent (albeit short-term) tariff on a reference-point Rhone Syrah. The Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone has become one of our best-selling wines in Full Pull history—and it would not truly mark the transition into the holiday season without offering this wine at a price well below its usual $16 release.Quick logistics note before we move onto the wine itself: we only get one shot at this pricing, and it’s volume-based (one of those times when we all benefit from Full Pull’s growth over the last few years). We’ll try to build in a buffer for late orders and *some* reorders, but once we exceed that buffer, any reorders beyond that will be at a tariff closer to this wine’s normal $15-$16 range. Now, onto the wine. Wine Advocate: Copyrighted material withheld. That review sums up this wine perfectly. It has become Saint Cosme’s calling card: as good a  Syrah, year in and out, that you can buy for under $20. Another thing I love year after year is winemaker Louis Barruol’s own notes: When I create my Côtes du Rhône, my first thoughts are for you, my customers. At every stage, I wonder what you would like to taste, what you might enjoy. I imagine my bottle of wine on your table and I want to be proud of what I give you to enjoy. No detail can be taken lightly and you have to say to yourself that every tiny decision and every gesture will go towards shaping the final result. Every wine must be made as if it was designed to be the best. As far as I am aware, when you bring up your children, you do your utmost for each and every one of them, irrespective of intellect or beauty. I will always ensure that our Côtes du Rhône is a fine ambassador for our estate. In 2017, low yields produced wines with lots of intensity. Their vibrant fruit adds ‘crunchiness’ and salinity. As always, the bouquet is guided by the Syrah and the clay soils. Tannins are there but they are nicely rounded. Here Louis touches on one of the most intriguing things about this Côtes du Rhone. While most CdRs are majority Grenache, this version is made entirely of Rhone Syrah. (Louis’ Grenache goes into the Little James Basket Press, another list favorite wine.) The Syrah comes from two of Cosme’s holdings—one in Vinsobres (a bit cooler, on limestone and sand) and one in Gard (warmer, on large terraces of medium-to-large rolling stones). The Saint Cosme CdR clocks in at 14.5% listed alcohol. Done entirely in concrete, the wine begins with a nose of robust plum and berry fruit, crushed purple flowers, sandalwood, Rhone garrigue, and lots of savory minerals. On the palate, the fruit is savory and spiced, with a medium-full body. It’s kept bright with electric acidity and rustic tannins; balanced as all get out. CdRs are typically made for early consumption—and you wouldn’t regret drinking this one now—but this bottle truly has the stamina to age. This is the 20th vintage for Saint Cosme’s CdR and again it’s a Syrah that shines with depth and complexity. The overall sense of balance and class at this tag is unusual for sure, and the reason why we’ve offered every vintage since 2011.