This is Gigondas wine called Le Claux from maker Saint Cosme. I decanted for 30 minutes and poured a glass. The first taste I had, my genuine reaction was "what the hell is this?".
I have been drinking pinot noirs from Burgandy for a while. I only recently decided to try something different with a Langhe Nebbiolo and then some German chardonnay that I can't remember the name of. These have been in the less than $60 range.
Well, I decided to splurge. I paid $150 for this bottle. At first I thought I was getting ripped off, but apparently that is about what this wine sells for in the states.
It really does not taste like anything I have had before. It is like a completely different drink. It has a very, very smooth flavor. The texture is silky, like kind of oily. It tastes very strange. I am still awful at tasting notes but this reminds me of a balsamic vinegarett dressing with lots of black pepper and spicies. But at the same time, the flavor is light. It is overall very pleasant. It reminds me of my perfume Tom Ford Noir Extreme. Tabaco and spices.
I am having a lot of fun with wine. Every time you open up a new bottle it's something different. This one really suprised me. Unlike anything I have tried. I just wish I could better understand how to describe what I am sensing.
by SeaworthinessNew4295
9 Comments
I’ve not had Le Claux, but yeah this is what St Cosme Gigondas tastes like. It’s very aromatic.
I fell in love with wines from Gigondas on a trip there many years ago and I keep coming back to them. They manage to have savoury herbal aromas while still being very smooth and balanced, after they have breathed you get red fruit and plums. Very special wines IMO
Glad you are enjoying it and the single vineyards from St Cosme are amazing wines but ideally should be cellared. Try that bottle in about 10-15 years you will be astounded.
This is also a notoriously cool year for both southern and northern Rhône big reds as someone here can probably explain more capably than I.
That Saint-Joseph in the middle of a bunch of Southern Rhône wines is making me twitch.
If you love Gigondas and CNdP wines, but don’t always want to shell out the loot, and would like to have something with very similar notes, by law, the same grape bill, and enjoying Mistrals influencing the vine, try Vacqueyras. Usually 1/3 to 1/2 the price.
Oh man these single vineyards are the best Grenache made.
2021 is a struggle but still so good and unique.
Le poste is my fav as it is highest elevation site for them. You get some cool complexity.
All are tops though.
Every price point from them crushes.
Cote du Rhône is 100% Syrah and amazing for the price. Funny it’s Syrah being an epic Grenache producer but it works!
you mentioned trying a langhe nebbiolo before this and honestly that’s a really fun path you’re on. if the silky texture and spice is what grabbed you, barbaresco or barolo takes that in a completely different direction from gigondas but scratches the same itch. less balsamic sweetness, more tar and roses and dried herbs. the langhe was the baby version of that
Just so you know, the normal St. Cosme Gigondas that everyone recommends is about $40-70 depending on your region.
You purchased a single vineyard expression, which is $100-$150 depending on your region. This is really good stuff, but keep in mind it’s more intended to be aged in a cellar, so you drank it pretty young (the 2021 can absolutely be enjoyed now though). You also might have possibly enjoyed it more if you had decanted for something more like an hour or two. I would keep tasting it as it airs out more and see how it evolves. (You can also try to just let it evolve in the glass and see how it changes, sipping slowly and seeing how the flavors change)
You should seek out the regular Gigondas from St. Cosme and compare it. It’s much more affordable and also is a bit easier to drink younger.
[note, I edited this post to add the recommendation to let it evolve in glass instead of decanting, in parenthesis]