Micro-Cosme, Vin de France, Grenache Pinot Noir

Bottle note

This fusion of Grenache and Pinot Noir delivers beguiling notes of strawberry compote, gingerbread, souk spices, and heirloom rose in a blend that is vibrant and complex.

Producer Note

Fourteenth generation winemaker, Louis Barroul of Château de Saint Cosme fame, is one of the most highly respected winemakers in the Rhône Valley and is affectionately referred to by fellow winemakers of the region as the ‘Genius of Gigondas’. With great determination and flair, he showcases the great potential of the terroir with his outstanding cuvées from carefully selected vineyards. Over the years, Louis has established his own ‘negoce’ wines, seeking out the spirit of soils and vineyards, working painstakingly with small batch fermentations, advancing hand in hand with wine growers who love what they do, while adding that special touch. This has enabled him to explore and master different terroirs, from which he consistently produces pure wines with a precise sense of place, personality and balance.

Vineyard

A blend of Grenache and Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir grapes come from carefully selected vineyards in the Languedoc, while the Grenache come from the Roussillon and parcels in the Rhône. The Rhône Grenache grapes show distinctive freshness, which is rarely seen in other warm climate regions. It is not known exactly what imparts this freshness, this may be due to the influence of the Mistral wind or the cooling influence of the nearby Alps. The Grenache vines offer a myriad of expressions which add complexity to the wines. The Pinot Noir vines offer balance to the Grenache, when blended they complement each other beautifully offering finesse and power, softness and robustness and angular and rounded characters. A wonderful illustration of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

Winemaking

Micro-Cosme Rouge carries the Vin de France designation due to its unique production method. The destemmed grapes were traditionally vinified with wild yeasts. The Pinot Noir was fermented in stainless steel to retain the purity, while a proportion of the Grenache was vinified in concrete vats. Then the wine was created in concrete tanks by blending in wines from multiple vintages using a solera system starting with the 1999 vintage. The concept of a solera is that it offers consistency, and yet each year it offers intriguingly subtle differences. The result is a wine that is both vibrant and complex.

Tasting Note

This fusion of Grenache and Pinot Noir delivers beguiling notes of strawberry compote, gingerbread, souk spices, and heirloom rose in a blend that is vibrant and complex.

Details

Winemaker: Louis Barruol

Region: Vin de France

Country: France

Alcohol: 14% VOl

Contains Sulphites: Yes

Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes/Yes

Grapes: Grenache 60%, Pinot Noir 40%

Volume: 75cl

Closure: Screwcap