96 Points Decanter
Beautifully fragrant nose of star anise, cedar and cigar tobacco. Full-bodied, rounded and seductively plump and juicy, showing clarity, precision and focus on the palate, the fruit melds well with the considerable oak element, and it finishes long, tight and saline. Best Gigondas of the vintage. Very old vines, all whole-cluster fermented in concrete, no destemming, indigenous yeasts, and matured 100% in barriques; one third new, one third second use, and the rest third use.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Grown from the estate’s oldest vineyard, which is composed of yellow lime- stone marl, this wine is immediately captivating. A vibrant entry of wild berries and orange peel leads to a midpalate of blackberries, roses and violet petals, with Asian spices on the finish. Refined, precise and gorgeous, this wine would be benefit from additional cellaring but is difficult to resist now.
95 Points Wine Spectator
Earthy, savory and inviting, with smoked meat, bay leaf and singed wild herbs infusing a base of plum sauce and cherry. Gains support from fine-grained tannins, but a spine of iron gives real form to this layered wine, with black olive tapenade, balsamic and black pepper notes filling out the lengthy finish.
94 Points Wine Enthusiast
Grown from the estate’s oldest vineyard, which is composed of yellow limestone marl, this wine is immediately captivating. A vibrant entry of wild berries and orange peel leads to a midpalate of blackberries, roses and violet petals, with Asian spices on the finish. Refined, precise and gorgeous, this wine would be benefit from additional cellaring but is difficult to resist now
Winemaker Note
The soil at Le Claux is a yellowish limestone marl and produces the most “Burgundian” wine at Saint Cosme. “It’s extremely refined and fresh with lots of bouquet. Its propensity to mature is excellent,” says Barruol. The wine features aromas and flavors of wild strawberries, violet, peat, Chinese Five Spice, and camphor. 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.
