Les Deux Albions Blanc 2017

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.”

Domaine de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albions Blanc carries the Principauté-d'Orange IGP and comes from 10-hectares near Violès, directly across the Ouvèze River from Gigondas. "The level of limestone here is, I think, the highest in the region," says Louis Barruol. This wine is a blend of Viognier, Picpoul, and Marsanne aged on the lees in a combination of pièce, demi-muids, and INOX tank.

Tasting Notes

Les Deux Albions Blanc shows the salty minerality typical of limestone terroir with notes of dried apricots and white flowers. The plantings near Violès include Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Viognier, Picpoul, Clairette, and Ugni Blanc, and all varieties will be included in future bottlings.

Food Pairing

Viognier aged in neutral barrels has a full body and rich texture with just-medium acidity. It is easily paired with dishes that feature creamy sauces, mild white fish, and roasted pork or chicken. Picpoul brings acidity to the blend and gives this wine salinity, making it a superb choice for cooked or raw shellfish.

Vineyard & Production Info

Vineyard name:

Saint Martin

Soil composition:

Calcareous, Rocky, and Clay

Training method:

Gobelet

Vines/acre:

2500

Exposure:

Southwestern

Year vineyard planted:

2013

Harvest time:

Beginning of September

First vintage of this wine:

2016

Bottles produced of this wine:

45,000

Certifying organizations:

Ecocert

Winemaking & Aging

Varietal composition:

50% Viognier, 30% Picpoul, 20% Marsanne

Fining agent:

Vegan

Type of aging container:

Barrels and Stainless steel tanks

Size of aging container:

500 Liters and 228 Liters

Age of aging container:

One year

Type of oak:

French

Length of aging before bottling:

5 monthes

Analytical Data

Alcohol:

14.0 %

pH level:

3.8

Residual sugar:

1.1 g/L

Acidity:

3.0 g/L