A Saintly Southern Rhone Sale 4-29-24

In This Newsletter:
 
Featurette: C Why Insiders Love The C des Carmes
 &
Saint Cosme in the South Sale
 


C Des Carmes Featurette:
 
C Why Insiders Love The C des Carmes
 

Once part of the First Growth Bordeaux estate Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion was split from the estate over 400 years ago when it was donated to the Catholic Carmelites order. Le C des Carmes is their second wine, of which only a couple hundred cases are produced annually. We’ve yet to feature this broadly in our newsletter as insiders tend to snap this up right quick (especially since receiving 96 points from Decanter Magazine for this vintage). We loaded up on another five cases of this astounding value this week and thought it about time that we spread the word. Act fast!
 
In Stock Now:
 
Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion ‘Le C des Carmes’, Pessac-Leognan 2019 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 96 points “Beautiful fragrance to the nose, perfumed and delicate yet so expressive, nothing out of balance with cherries and violets bursting out of the glass. Gorgeous smooth mouthfeel with some milk chocolate dusting on the fruit, tannins are delicate and softly mouth filling with a lovely salinity to the palate – creamy and unctuous but at the same time there’s lots of acidity. This has a verticality to it, layered but with an aerial quality too, the flavours just glide across the palate with lift on the finish – so satisfying and drinkable. Just a glorious, shining, bright, velvety, succulent glass of wine. Pure elegance. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, 3.55pH. Drinking Window 2022 – 2046.”

 
Shop our 92 in-stock Bordeaux options on our webstore now!


 
Saintly Southern Sale:
 
Southern Rhône Wines from Saint Cosme
 
On Sale Now
 

Saint Cosme is one of the notable estates of the Southern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures.
 
Barroul’s Southern Rhône wines include some of his most famous single vineyard bottles from his estate holdings in Gigondas as well as his seriously undervalued Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We’ve put these iconic bottlings and his best-value Côtes du Rhône wines on a three-day sale starting now. Though we receive one of the largest allocations in the country, don’t wait too long to secure your cellar treasures and summer soiree standbys!
 

5% off any 6-11 in-stock Southern Rhône wines from Saint Cosme
10% off any 12 or more in-stock Southern Rhône wines from Saint Cosme
 
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Sale ends Thursday, May 2nd at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer 27 in-stock Southern Rhône wines from Saint Cosme options on sale now, including:
 
Domaine de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Blanc, IGP Vaucluse Principaute d’Orange 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $20.90, that’s $19.86 at 5% off and $18.81 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 89 points “The 2022 Les Deux Albion Blanc is largely Viognier and Marsanne, and the Viognier really shows on the nose with its honeyed citrus, flower, tangerine, and orange blossom-like aromatics. These carry to a medium-bodied, pure, layered, impressive white offering both richness and freshness. I suspect it will represent a terrific value and should have a year or two of solid drinkability.”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Le Poste Blanc, Cotes du Rhone 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Producer Notes “Clairette is surely THE white grape of the southern Rhone. Our grandfathers explored this at length. They tried everything and Clairette quite naturally established itself. There is no denying that this grape variety has extremely worthwhile features for our region: it is quite late-ripening, produces low alcohol levels, shows very high resistance to the heat and has a fairly remarkable connection with limestone. In a fairly dry year like 2019, Le Poste rewarded us with a lovely crop that took us aback – the grapes were a lovely oval shape and produced very balanced wines. White Le Poste needs to be given time to mature – it is essential. If you wait for many long years, it even takes on petrol-like notes recalling the aromas mature German Rieslings develop. The Tortonian marl found at Le Poste is a geological accident – it shouldn’t be here. Hence, geologists refer to it as the ‘Saint Cosme accident’. Sometimes accidents are fortuitous these soils have huge potential for winegrowing, both for reds and whites. The Piedmontese with their Barolo and Barbaresco realised this long ago as the Tortonian – from Tortona in Piedmont – is a common feature across the area. Gunflint, fennel, grapefruit.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2021 1.5L Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.10 at 10% off, 36+ magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 89 points “Cassis, violet and blackberry flavors are round and supple on the palate in this dark red, with charred cedar, smoked meat and pepper adding depth and range. A densely structured version.”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Cotes du Rhone 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $20.90, that’s $19.86 at 5% off and $18.81 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Chateau de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Cotes du Rhone 2020 1.5L Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Ripe and polished yet fresh, this red seduces with ripe, generous anise, vanilla-laced blackberry and cherry flavors, then turns dark and brooding on the palate, with smoldering iron, garrigue, menthol, black pepper and dark earth notes framed by fine-grained tannins. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Clairette. Drink now through 2027”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $45, that’s $42.75 at 5% off and $40.50 at 10% off, 32 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Brilliant violet. Pungent red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by emerging floral and succulent herb nuances. Alluringly sweet and juicy on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry, cherry and candied lavender flavors that deepen through the back half. Finishes supple, spicy and long, with lingering floral and cherry notes and gentle tannic grip.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Modern and stylish, offering an engaging mix of raspberry puree, warm baking spices and red licorice, with vanilla highlights. A beam of iron minerality brings shape and balance to this version, while invigorating acidity and tannins drive the energy. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2035. —J.M.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2018 1.5L Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 22 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Moving to the wines from bottle, the base Gigondas from this estate is a perennial winner and readers can safely buy bottles of this in just about every vintage. Giving up a Provençal bouquet of red and black currants, peppery herbs, leather, and loamy soil, the 2018 is medium to full-bodied, has a forward, sexy style, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s terrific today yet still has enough tannins to evolve for 10-15 years if you’re so inclined.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2020 1.5L Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 19 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This has a beautiful texture, harmoniously blending plum sauce, raspberry preserves, charred alder and floral perfume with an invigorating, fresh dusting of white pepper and crushed dried herbs. Delivers an intense undercurrent of mineral, incense and lavender notes that course through the finish, which goes on and on. Delicious. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2035. —J.M.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $128, that’s $121.60 at 5% off and $115.20 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97-100 points “At the moment, the 2020 Gigondas Hominis Fides looks to be the standout of the three single vineyards, although all three are beautiful wines in the making. It certainly offers the most power and concentration, with lots of ground pepper, Provençal garrigue, violets, and loamy soils notes, as well as a darker cassis and berry-driven core of fruit. It builds beautifully on the palate, with ample structure, incredible balance, and a great, great finish.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “A showstopper, this is chewy, smoky and broad-shouldered in the best possible way. Reveals layers of blackberry and plum matched by pronounced charred iron, dried thyme and black pepper. Shows serious mineral intensity and refined yet muscular tannins, which provide the framework and energy, while forest floor, tobacco and an intriguing menthol note mark the long finish. Best from 2025 through 2040.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Everything about the all-Grenache 2018 Gigondas le Claux is big. From the huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, to the insane levels of concentration, the rich, velvety tannins and the never-ending, licorice-tinged finish, this beauty should evolve positively for at least a decade and a half.-JC”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 32 bottles in stock now
Nicolas Greinacher-Vinous 95-97 points “Brilliant violet color. Displays pungent, mineral- and spice-accented cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and licorice aromas, along with hints of savory herbs, vanillo and incense. Chewy and tightly focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry, dark berry and Moroccan spice flavors that unfurl slowly through the back half. It closes with firm tension, chewy tannins and excellent tenacity, leaving resonating cherry and floral notes behind. All barriques, a third of them new.”
 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “A behemoth of a wine, with dense layers of sweet, ripe plum sauce and mulled cherry that take a dark, savory turn on the palate, coated in melted iron, black licorice, balsamic reduction and singed herbs. Despite its massive power and coiled energy, this is surprisingly delicious now, with beautiful harmony to the texture and structure. A wine to savor and contemplate. Drink now through 2040.—B.S.”

Shop our 27 selections on sale now on our webstore!