Red dry
Saint-Joseph AOC is one of the noblest terroirs of the Northern Rhône, where Syrah reveals its truest expression: granite soils, east-facing slopes and a cool climate give the wine purity of aroma, elegant structure and a subtle yet profound sense of power. This cuvée is a masterfully interpreted terroir wine, where precision meets natural vitality.
The aroma opens with generous notes of blackberries, black plums and blueberries. These are joined by nuances of wild herbs, black pepper and red flowers. Hints of smoke, soft tobacco and a touch of granite minerality add depth and refinement.
On the palate, the wine is concentrated and structured, yet undeniably elegant. The tannins are silky and polished, giving softness, while the acidity is vibrant and keeps the wine in perfect balance. Dark berry fruit—blackberries and plums—dominates, layered with spicy tones of pepper, smoke and a slightly earthy, mineral backbone. The finish is long, refined and subtly herbal, leaving an impression of poised, firm elegance.
The vineyards grow on granite-based eastern slopes characteristic of Saint-Joseph — granite brings structure, minerality and a precise, taut profile, while the orientation and cooler climate help preserve acidity and fruit freshness.
The wine is made from 100% Sérine (an old local Syrah clone). About 70% of the grapes are destemmed, while 30% undergo whole-cluster fermentation with natural yeasts to retain structural tension and spice. Ageing takes place in 20% new French oak barrels, the rest in used barrels, ensuring balance between fruit purity, structure and subtle oak integration.
Serve at 16–18 °C, with grilled duck, stewed mushrooms, or a stew of black lentils and herbs.
Château de Saint Cosme is the leading estate of Gigondas and produces the appellation’s benchmark wines. Wine has been produced on the site of Saint Cosme since Roman times, evident by the ancient Gallo-Roman vats carved into the limestone below the château. The property has been in the hands of Louis Barruol’s family since 1490. Henri and Claude Barruol took over in 1957 and gradually moved Saint Cosme away from the bulk wine business. Henri was one of the first in the region to work organically beginning in the 1970s. Louis Barruol took over from his father in 1992, making a dramatic shift to quality, adding a négociant arm to the business in 1997, and converting to biodynamics in 2010. The estate is in the heart of Gigondas where 15 hectares of vineyard grow in the shade of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The limestone that distinguishes Gigondas from other southern Rhône appellations is visible on the jagged cliffs of the Dentelles. In addition to Gigondas and the old-vine selection Gigondas Valbelle, three single-vineyard Gigondas are produced: Hominis Fides, Le Claux, and Le Poste. Louis Barruol owns an additional 10 hectares of vineyard in Violès outside of Gigondas to produce Les Deux Albions Blanc IGP.
