2011 Chateau de Saint Cosme, Cotes du Rhone “Les Deux Albion” Red, Rhone Valley, France.
Sadly, by the time I got around opening this wine, it has mostly sold out across the country and that is a shame as it is a fantastic and very unique wine. This 2011 Les Deux Albion” is from the northern area of the southern Rhone, near Vinsobres and made from mostly if not all Syrah, so it is not your juicy fruit forward Grenache, in fact it is severely dry and austere, though I’m sure it will open up to more fruit over time. This racy Cotes du Rhone from Saint Cosme is darkly colored, and sexy in the glass with wilted flowers, tangy herbs and dried currants along with a hint of pepper hit the nose before a a powerful fist of sea salted black licorice hits you full force bringing with it some fig cake, blueberry, poached plum and lavender oil notes. This savory and chalky wine reveals subtle fruits and game as well as hints of kirsch on the dry medium tannined finish, now I just adore this intriguing wine, but it is not what most people expect when they reach for a Cotes du Rhone, so be warned, this is a very serious and intense expression and a remarkable wine from Saint Cosme.
($28 Est.) 93+ Points, grapelive
