Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2018

Drink it now or cellar for up to 25 years. It is recommended to decant it for half an hour. Located in the heart of the Gigondas appellation in the Rhone Valley, Château de Saint Cosme has around 15 hectares of vineyards, which have been organically farmed since the 1970s and biodynamically farmed since 2010. Remains of ancient Gallo-Roman vats have been found beneath the castle, testifying to the site's long winemaking tradition. The estate has been in the hands of the Barruol family since the end of the 15th century, but the production of quality, non-bulk wine dates back to the mid-1900s. The Grenache grapes are selected from an ancient vineyard located in Le Claux, opposite the Hominis Fides vineyard, planted on calcareous marl soils from the Miocene. After fermentation, the wine rests in a mix of new and used barrels for 12 months, before being bottled without filtration. Gigondas Le Claux is an elegant and harmonious wine, with a broad and fragrant aromatic profile that shows notes of ripe raspberries, blackberries, and blackcurrants, followed by peppery hints, leather, and truffle. On the palate, it is generous and smooth, rich and well structured with firm and well-integrated tannins and a good refreshing acidity. The finish is long and balanced and recalls gentle notes of undergrowth. It is excellent with pepper-crusted filet of beef or Lebanese roast leg of lamb.

Price: £97.28 from 8wines UK