Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone 2009 is tonight’s wine, and it comes with a conspiracy. The case that it was delivered in said it was from Gigondas.
Gigondas is pronounced gee gohn dahs. Where the first two syllables are said rather quick so that the n is almost not pronounced and slips into the das, which is a longer syllable. This guy gets close to the pronunciation: hear it pronounced.
The pronunciation is not the conspiracy, though. The conspiracy is that it comes from Gigondas. Gigondas is a small area in France. It’s right in the middle of the southern Rhone Valley.
(Click the image. It gets bigger.)
But if a wine come from Gigondas, then it’s considered a Gigondas and not a Rhone. However, if they get their grapes from outside of Gigondas, then can it be considered a Rhone? But then again, the back label reads:
In our family since 1490, Saint Cosme has been built on a gallo-roman site, close to Gigondas, in the heart of a geological mosaic. The Chapel of Saint Cosme looks down on our vines …
“The Chapel of Saint Cosme looks down on our vines.”
So the winery is close to Gigondas, so it could be a Rhone. But the delivery, the case says it’s from Gigondas. And round and round we go.
In the end, who cares. Let’s just drink.
But nah. There’s more to this wine. Three more things.
First, what’s “the heart of a geological mosaic”? I think this picture should explain it. (Click it, and it will get bigger.)
And if that’s not enough, check out this information here: Gigondas.
Second, I had the 2008 before, and I wrote about it here. I seemed to think it was ok. But that was the 2008. This is the 2009. And that is the third item.
The 2009 is number 88 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 wines of 2010. (You can download this list here: The Wine Spectator Top 100 2010.) The Wine Spectator also gave it 90 points and called it a Smart Buy at $18. And to think I got it for $12. Thanks Mahan’s. (Mahan’s is where I buy my wine. They provide me with lots of wonderful information, including some of the above Gigonda’s information. I love Mahan’s, and so do most people in Brockport.)
Now, it’s time for the wine, and boy do I need it after all of that.
I opened this about an hour and a half ago and poured a glass. It was a brilliant purple grape color but dark, too.
It smells delicious. The nose is floral. It smells darker than it looks. There might be some leather in there. I also pick up some dark berries and maybe some cinnamon.
This has a little spice to it. I pick up some limestone, too. That must be from the geological mosaic.
There’s probably some tobacco in here, too.
The finish tells me it will go perfect with salmon cooked in a 18-year-old balsamic vinegar glaze as the finish has a similar taste to an 18-year-old balsamic vinegar. So yummy.
Overall, I’m digging this wine and it will go good with the salmon and veggies, but I’m not getting 90 points. Definitely 89, though. And that’s the another conspiracy – Wine Spectator’s #88 ranking and 90 points. Hmm. I’m skeptical.
Anyway, maybe in another year or two it’ll open up a bit. It’s still a bit firm and chewy.//
