Little James Basket Press Blanc

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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 is an unconventional blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc are traditionally grown in different regions but Louis Barruol believes them to be complementary. The wine is vinified in stainless steel tanks.

Le Poste Vineyards and Dentelles de Montmirail

"Crafted from equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, this is overtly friendly with fresh mango and passion fruit alongside beeswax and honey-brushed nectarines that linger through the springtime-flower-lifted finish. Also from Château de Saint-Cosme is the Domaine de Saint-Cosme "Les Deux Albion" 2019 from the Principauté d'Orange in the Vaucluse. This is more akin to the great, classic whites of the Rhône Valley with its dense, almost waxy or lactic aromas of mashed almonds and white licorice preceding a palate of energy and weight in equal measure, with cooked honey, fennel bulb, ripe apricots, white peaches, Asian pears, and a dusting of baking spices."
— Food & Wine, Mar 2022

“I always enjoy this charming white. The 2020 Pays D'Oc Little James Basket Press has plenty of peach and tangerine fruit in a medium-bodied, soft, undeniably delicious package ideal for near-term drinking. It’s based on Sauvignon and Viognier, brought up in tank.”
— Jeb Dunnuck, Jan 2022

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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

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

Total SO2

pH level:

3.54

Acidity:

78.92 g/L

Alcohol:

12.79 %

Dry extract:

19.6 g/L

Total SO2

Residual sugar:

0.5 g/L

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POS MATERIALS

Tech Sheet Bottle Shot Acclaim

Little James Basket Press Blanc

Wine Description

Château de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Rouge

Saint Cosme Crozes Hermitage

Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste

Micro-Cosme Blanc

Saint Cosme Condrieu

Little James Basket Press Blanc

Wine Description

More from Château de Saint Cosme

Château de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Rouge

Saint Cosme Crozes Hermitage

Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste

Micro-Cosme Blanc

Saint Cosme Condrieu