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Red dry
Le Claux is one of the most historically significant vineyards of Château de Saint Cosme. This wine comes from the old Le Claux parcel (1.8 ha) — the estate’s oldest vineyard, originally planted in 1870.
On the nose, aromas of savory herbs, sour cherries, wild strawberries, and subtle hints of white truffle unfold. The bouquet is deep, noble, and delicately earthy.
On the palate, the wine is firm, mineral-driven, yet elegant. The tannins are ripe and precise, giving the wine a clear, focused structure. The palate is layered, with a long, refined finish marked by minerality and the concentration typical of old vines.
After the First World War, only around 10% of the original vines survived, and today their average age is approximately 60 years. This vineyard is among the very first sites in France to have been replanted after the phylloxera crisis.
Cool air currents descending from the Font des Papes valley slow the ripening process, allowing the grapes to retain freshness, health, and develop a complex aromatic profile.
Fermentation is carried out using whole clusters, preserving spice and natural structure. The wine is aged for 12 months in oak barrels:
20% new oak,
50% second-use barrels,
30% third-use barrels.
The wine is unfiltered, in order to preserve maximum aromatic purity and the authentic expression of its terroir.
Serve at 16-18 °C with both rustic and sophisticated dishes, stews, braises, and grilled meats, dark fish and tomato-based dishes such as ratatouille.
Everything about the all-Grenache 2018 Gigondas le Claux is big. From the huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, to the insane levels of concentration, the rich, velvety tannins and the never-ending, licorice-tinged finish, this beauty should evolve positively for at least a decade and a half. Drink date: 2022 - 2035.
Dark plums and violets here alongside roses which give a deep, heady florality. On the palate it's very broad and expansive, with deeply integrated acidity and deeply ingrained oak. It’s very long and powerful with quite raised alcohol but manages to retain a sense of freshness.
The 2018 Gigondas Le Claux comes from a single vineyard located just down the road from the domaine, across the street from the Hominis Fides parcel. Notes of camphor, incense, spice box, and black raspberries all flow to a forward, medium to full-bodied, elegant effort that has soft, ripe tannins. It’s another wine that shows the style of the vintage beautifully. Drink it any time over the coming 15 to 20 years.
Château de Saint Cosme is one of the oldest and most respected wineries in the southern Rhône Valley, located in the Gigondas appellation. The estate’s history dates back to the 16th century, and today it is run by Louis Barruol, representing the 14th generation of the family dedicated to preserving and developing this exceptional domaine.
The winery is renowned for its organic and biodynamic viticulture and for its highly precise work in the cellar. The vineyards grow on limestone, clay, and sandy soils, which give the wines structure, mineral tension, and remarkable ageing potential.
The estate’s flagship grape variety is ‘Grenache’, alongside ‘Syrah’, ‘Mourvèdre’, and ‘Cinsault’. Grapes are harvested by hand, fermentation is carried out with native yeasts, and ageing often takes place in old oak barrels or concrete vats to preserve the purity of the terroir and the authenticity of the wine.
Château de Saint Cosme wines are known for:
expressive yet balanced fruit character
elegant structure
pronounced minerality
excellent ageing potential
The estate is widely regarded as a benchmark of Gigondas, respected both in France and internationally as one of the most authentic expressions of the Southern Rhône.
