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 1490. 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
"A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, the 2018 IGP Pays d'Oc Little James Basket Press Blanc hints at apple blossom and apricot on the nose, then delivers charming citrus flavors in a medium-bodied format, finishing clean and refreshing."
— Wine Advocate, Sep 2019
“Fresh flavors of grapefruit and apple are interwoven with honey and floral accents in this supple, aromatic white, with spice details lingering on the creamy finish.”
— Wine Spectator, Mar 2020
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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:
150,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
50% Viognier, 50% Sauvignon Blanc
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of aging before bottling:
6 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.6
Acidity:
3.6 g/L
Alcohol:
12.8 %
Residual sugar:
1.1 g/L