Appearance
An inky purple with ruby edges.
Smell
Early: Earthy & alcoholic red fruits, predominantly plums.
Later: The red fruits blossom with time & plums are supported by forest fruits, tobacco & something faintly floral.
Palate
Surprisingly acidic & tannic, with tannins that coat the entire mouth. The palate is a tad vegetal, with spiced plums & a hint of tobacco. A fantastic food wine!
Tale
Located north of the village of Gigondas, Saint Cosme is the most ancient estate in the southern Rhône region. Built on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa, the Château de Saint Cosme has been owned by the same family since 1490, with the 14th generation producing some outstandingly affordable wines. The local geography is situated at the crossroads of two geological faults, which provides a diversity of soil types. The Saint Cosme Chapel sits at the top of a hill in the middle of the vineyards, dating as far back as the 11th century. This particular Côtes du Rhône is 100% Syrah (aka. Shiraz). The back label suggests graphite, strawberry compote, liquorice & lilac, but that might be getting a bit carried away.
Price: $20 (current vintage is 2013)
Welcome
Welcome
This is a resource for people who want to buy an interesting bottle of wine on a budget of about $20. If you get lost between Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and have access to a Dan Murphy's or Vintage Cellars (or Aldi, as of 2015!), you've come to the right place. Where possible, wines are listed with their single-bottle price from DM/VC/A and the winery's home page.
A good place to start is the 'Index', or if you know what type of wine you want, head straight to the 'Recommended Reds', 'Worthy Whites' or 'Stunning Sparklers' that only show 4 & 5☆ wines.
Your experience will be different to everyone else's, which makes wine such a pleasure. The same vintage wine at different ages will be distinct, as will the same aged wines from different vintages. What the glass holds is a unique parcel of time that should be enjoyed as such.