1998 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle

Community Tasting Notes (55) Avg Score: 91.1 points

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  5/3/2023 - melvinyeowq wrote: 91 Points

  S$100-$150 open theme: My contribution. Most were in Burgundy but someone impressively managed to call this as a Rhone. Resolved with some bramble and soy notes. Mellow blueberry fruit with a hint of lavender, age has really softened this wine to be about finesse rather than power which was surprising for a southern Rhône.

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  7/20/2022 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  A co-fermented blend of Grenache (90%) and Syrah (10%) from the oldest St. Cosme estate vineyards in Gigondas. Aged in partially new (approx. 20%) oak barrels. 14% alcohol and 1,5 g/l residual sugar. Tasted blind.
  
  Evolved, moderately translucent brick-red color with a deep pomegranate color and a thin orange rim. Evolved, meaty nose with quite tertiary aromas of dried strawberries and raspberry jam, some game, a little bit of old leather, light boozy notes of alcohol, a hint of sweet spices, a fragrant touch of stewed rose hips and a whiff of licorice root. The wine feels dry, evolved and very textural on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and quite developed flavors of wizened cranberries and dried strawberries, some leathery notes, a little bit of earth, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of dried flowers and a touch of ripe red plums. Despite its ripeness, the wine feels moderately high in acidity with still quite grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is is dry, slightly warm and moderately grippy with long, somewhat tertiary flavors of lingonberry compote and salt-cured beef, some dried cranberries, a little bit of old leather, light earthy notes, a woody hint of pencil shavings and a touch of ripe strawberry.
  
  An enjoyably, textural and still surprisingly structured Gigondas. The age is starting to show, but the wine hasn't turned into an old, anonymous wine yet, instead retaining some youthful energy that nicely accentuates the sweeter elements in the tertiary flavors. After guessing old Bordeaux and Bandol, I went for an aged Châteauneuf-du-Pape. When told my guess was very close, I guessed old St. Cosme Gigondas - bullseye. A delightful old Rhône red, but I doubt this wine will continue to improve anywhere from here - hopefully it'll stay good for some more years. Priced according to its quality at 48€.

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  3/29/2022 - kostaslonis wrote:

  Tasting Ground official tasting, 2020 Chateau Thivin (Oinoscent): Brought this to drink during service.
  Decanted 13:30, tasted 14:20
  -//-
  The wine shows fully developed brick red color
  In the nose, the wine shows fully developed profile, sous bois, garrique, earthy, olive notes, dried red cherries, dried red currants, old barrel sweet notes.
  In the palate, the wine shows the same decanted notes, earthy, dried red fruits, medium acidity, the tannins are still there, clove, cinnamon, spice core, a touch hot , oaky frame, sour cherries, tobacco, chocolate, medium finish

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  4/17/2021 - Wineocracy Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Took a good 30 mins to open up. Once it did, the wine showed beautifully. Delicate black fruit, hint of black pepper. Light touch, but still a Gigondas and worked very well with eggplant parm. I have another bottle of this and plan to drink soon!

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  11/14/2018 - ejmwine Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Drinking nicely but maybe a little past prime. Drink up.

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