Chateau de Saint Cosme

History of Château de Saint Cosme

The history of Saint Cosme dates back to Roman times, as evidenced by the twenty-five fermentation vats carved into the rock, which have come down to us intact, near an ancient Roman villa and the chapel that gives the estate its name. The Barruol family purchased their first vines here in 1490 and has passed down its expertise since the 15th century. Henri Barruol established the estate among renowned producers as early as 1957 and converted it to organic farming in 1972, at a time when he was still selling his Gigondas in barrels.

His son Louis Barruol took over the reins in 1992 and undertook a spectacular quality-driven upgrade. In 1997, he created a négociant activity to showcase little-known great Rhône terroirs, then certified the estate in biodynamics in 2010. Supported since 2016 by winemaker Nicolas Chevrol, he was elected president of the Gigondas appellation in 2024, confirming his role as a major figure in the Rhône. Louis Barruol has also extended his venture with Château de Rouanne in Vinsobres and the Forge Cellars project in the United States.

Terroirs and Vines of Château de Saint Cosme

The estate's vineyard extends over approximately 22 hectares of old vines, with an average age of 60 years, at the heart of Gigondas, complemented by around ten hectares near Violès. The great geological upheaval of the Dentelles de Montmirail has created a true mosaic of soils: Miocene sands, red clay, gravel and Jurassic calcareous marls rich in fossils. This terroir, combined with a cold and late-ripening microclimate, endows the wines with remarkable freshness, balance and finesse, while preserving measured alcohol levels.

The king grape variety is Grenache, accompanied by Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Clairette. Three single-parcel terroirs illustrate the diversity of Gigondas: Le Poste borders the chapel on calcareous marls, Le Claux brings together very old vines planted in 1870 on clay, and Hominis Fides sinks its roots into the sands. Faithful to the family heritage, the estate bans herbicides, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, hoes its vines by hand and tends to the life of the soils in respect of biodiversity.

Vinifications of Château de Saint Cosme

The winemaking philosophy combines tradition and precision. The grapes are never destemmed: whole-cluster harvesting brings structure, freshness and definition to the wines. Fermentations take place with indigenous yeasts, and ageing favours a combination of concrete tanks and Burgundian 228-litre barrels, predominantly several vintages old, in order to preserve the purity of fruit and the expression of terroir without excess new oak. The wines are neither fined nor filtered.

For its négociant activity created in 1997, Louis Barruol applies the same exacting standards: small cuvées, manual work, loyal partnerships with passionate winemakers and transport of wines in barrels so as not to damage them. The objective remains the same — to produce wines that express their origin with purity and personality, endowed with fine balance and a genuine aptitude for ageing.

The Cuvées of Château de Saint Cosme

Gigondas: the flagship wine of the estate, this Grenache-dominant blend complemented by Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault reveals aromas of wild raspberry, blood orange and old rose. Ample, fresh and silky, it has a beautiful ageing potential of ten to fifteen years.

Gigondas Valbelle: the estate's first prestige cuvée, created in 1993, it is drawn from a selection of very old vines. Rich, deep and refined, aged in barrel, it is a Gigondas built for ageing and of great complexity.

Gigondas Le Poste: a single-parcel wine located near the chapel, on a terroir of Jurassic calcareous marls and fossils. This highly mineral Grenache seduces with its elegance and purity, often described as the finest and most delicate wine of the estate.

Gigondas Le Claux: from a 1.8-hectare parcel with vines planted in 1870 on clay and gravel, it is vinified in the Burgundian style using whole clusters. Incredibly aromatic, structured and endowed with a tight tannic framework, it requires a few years of patience and can be kept for more than fifteen years.

Gigondas Hominis Fides: born from the Miocene sandy soils, this old-vine Grenache marries power and finesse in a profile of great elegance. Acclaimed by critics, with peaks of 96/100 from Robert Parker, it ranks among the stars of the appellation.

Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge: produced from 100% Syrah, this cuvée with a surprisingly northern Rhône style is regularly cited as one of the best value-for-money wines in the appellation. Dark fruit, spices and freshness make it a wine of immediate pleasure.

Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc: an indulgent and fresh white, it offers a pure expression of the Rhône white grape varieties, with notes of flowers and white-fleshed fruits.

Les Deux Albions Rouge: a Rhône Valley blend from the Violès vines, this supple and fruity Côtes-du-Rhône seduces with its indulgence and conviviality.

Les Deux Albions Blanc: an IGP white, this fresh and perfumed wine is best enjoyed in its youth, full of vibrancy and freshness.

Little James' Basket Press Rouge: an original cuvée in Vin de France, produced using a solera system that blends several vintages of Grenache, the oldest of which date back to 1999. Round, spiced and immediately charming, it is crafted for pure pleasure.

Little James' Basket Press Blanc: a Vin de France based on Sauvignon Blanc, lively and aromatic, it plays on citrus, blackcurrant bud and white flowers.

Vacqueyras: a neighbour of Gigondas, this Grenache-dominant red offers warmth, spices and generosity, in a sunny and fleshy register.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape: produced as a négociant wine from partner growers' grapes, this Fine Wine from the south combines power, complexity and velvety texture, with a beautiful ageing potential.

Condrieu: a 100% Viognier white, floral and opulent, it unfolds notes of apricot, peach and white flowers on an ample texture.

Côte-Rôtie: from Serine, an ancient Syrah, vinified with whole clusters and aged for twelve months in barrels with 30% new oak, it is distinguished by its depth, its peppery notes and its refined character.

Saint-Joseph: a northern Rhône Syrah all in elegance, with dark fruit, violet and spices, on a fine and fresh structure.

Crozes-Hermitage: an approachable and fruity Syrah, indulgent and well-balanced, it provides a beautiful entry point into the northern Rhône reds.

Hermitage: a fine wine from Syrah from the mythical hill, it stands out for its density, its controlled power and an exceptional aptitude for ageing.

Beyond these cuvées, the Saint Cosme négociant activity also offers, depending on the vintage, other Rhône appellations such as Cornas, Saint-Péray, Lirac, Vinsobres, Ventoux and Côtes du Vivarais, always crafted in small cuvées with the same pursuit of purity and balance.