Château de Saint Cosme

Chateau de Saint Cosme, located just to the north of Gigondas, is the most ancient estate in the region. Lying on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa, the estate's wine-making history can be traced back as far as 1416, attested by a document mentioning the granting by Jean de Chalon, Prince of Orange, of 'land for the planting of vines on the Saint Cosme slopes'. Present proprietor Louis Barruol's ancestors acquired the property in 1570, and at the end of the 16th century built the splendid, commanding residence over existing cellars that still stands to this day.Barruol says of his philosophy; "We have 15 hectares of old vines (average 60 years old) with a yield of around 27 hectolitres/ha. We only produce Gigondas wines from our vineyards which encircle the Château. My wish was to become a negociant which would work with the spirit of a vigneron using ancient methods, this meant being and remaining a small producer and to follow and be followed by winemakers with the same goals."Louis still oversees the running of the property today with his ever-meticulous attention to detail and respect for his vines and terroir.