Little James Basket Press Blanc

Little James Basket Press Blanc bottle image

Wine Description

Château de Saint Cosme is the leading estate of Gigondas and produces the benchmark wines of the appellation. The property has been in the hands of the Barruol family since 1570. Louis Barruol took over from his father in 1992 making a dramatic shift to quality and converting to biodynamics in 2010.

The estate lies in the heart of Gigondas where 15 hectares of vineyard grow in the shade of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain. In addition to the estate-grown wines labeled “Château de Saint Cosme,” Louis Barruol buys grapes from contracted growers, labeling these “négociant” wines simply as “Saint Cosme.”

Saint Cosme Little James’ Basket Press Blanc carries the Vin de Pays d’Oc IGP and is an unconventional blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc are traditionally grown in different regions but grow side by side in the Languedoc and Louis Barruol believes them to be complementary. The wine is vinified in stainless steel tanks.

Saint Cosme Stone Sign
Chapel de Saint Cosme
WInemaker Louis Barruol
Oak Barrels
Chai de Saint Cosme
Aerial View of Chapel de Saint Cosme
Winemaker Louis Barruol
Le Poste Vineyards and Dentelles de Montmirail
Father and Son, Henry and Louis Barruol
Gigondas Bottle
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Acclaim
“Vibrant green apple and peach scents show good energy and a hint of succulent herbs. Dry and nervy on the palate, offering bitter citrus pith and orchard fruit flavors that unfurl slowly with aeration. Refreshingly taut and clean, carrying no excess fat and delivering firm closing bite and good persistence.”
— Vinous, Jun 2016
“This unusual, crisply delicious blend of lush, tropical Viognier and zesty Sauvignon Blanc comes at a compellingly low price.”
— Food & Wine, Nov 2016
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Vineyard & Production Info
Soil composition
Limestone
Training method
Guyot
Elevation:
825 feet
Vines/acre:
2000
Yield/acre:
0.2 tons
Exposure:
Southwestern
Harvest time:
Beginning of September
First vintage of this wine:
2001
Bottles produced of this wine:
110,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
50% Viognier, 50% Sauvignon Blanc
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
10 days
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Size of aging container:
100 HL
Length of aging before bottling:
6 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.3
Acidity:
3.8 g/L
Alcohol:
12.5 %
Dry extract:
18.5 g/L
Residual sugar:
1.6 g/L