Château de Saint-Cosme
Saint-Joseph Serine
St. Joseph, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
I find that Saint-Joseph can come in various guises, from polished, suave and extracted to meaty, rustic and traditional – perhaps due to the sheer size of the appellation and varied characteristics of its vineyards and vignerons. My first experience with Saint-Cosme’s SJ was an old bottle enjoyed around ten years ago that was superb. So, what’s it like now – and young?
The 2020 is a burly heavyweight, somewhere between traditional and modern in style, with punchy savoury aromas of grilled meat, charcoal, along with fresh blackcurrant, steeped plums and fig paste. There is also such a floral quality that it possesses a southern-Rhône appearance. But the palate is so very Syrah, very tannic initially and laden with dark fruits, espresso, dark chocolate and a kiss of new oak. This improves with air, and will improve with age. Built for the long-haul.
February 2025
I find that Saint-Joseph can come in various guises, from polished, suave and extracted to meaty, rustic and traditional – perhaps due to the sheer size of the appellation and varied characteristics of its vineyards and vignerons. My first experience with Saint-Cosme’s SJ was an old bottle enjoyed around ten years ago that was superb. So, what’s it like now – and young?
The 2020 is a burly heavyweight, somewhere between traditional and modern in style, with punchy savoury aromas of grilled meat, charcoal, along with fresh blackcurrant, steeped plums and fig paste. There is also such a floral quality that it possesses a southern-Rhône appearance. But the palate is so very Syrah, very tannic initially and laden with dark fruits, espresso, dark chocolate and a kiss of new oak. This improves with air, and will improve with age. Built for the long-haul.
February 2025
Vintage 2006 | Serine is an old and rare Syrah grape. I felt very lucky to taste this wine which at 19 years offered an intruiging expressive smell that opened up like a peacock tail. I could easily keep smelling and not tasting, such a joy the complex smell offered. Very well balanced, great wine imo.
Vintage 2006 | Serine is an old and rare Syrah grape. I felt very lucky to taste this wine which at 19 years offered an intruiging expressive smell that opened up like a peacock tail. I could easily keep smelling and not tasting, such a joy the complex smell offered. Very well balanced, great wine imo.
Feb 9th, 2025
Should have given it another 5-10 to fully integrate but just couldn’t wait…😉
Should have given it another 5-10 to fully integrate but just couldn’t wait…😉
Sep 29th, 2021
Big, rich, black olive, smoked meat, delicious
Big, rich, black olive, smoked meat, delicious
Oct 10th, 2020
Roses, violets, crushed black cherry and macerated wild blackberries, cocoa, woodsmoke, aged ham, granite. Really enjoy the integration of the WC fermentation here. The acid is keen, energetic. Tannins are a touch drying on the finish, it still shows its oak influence at this point. There’s some room for integration on that front, but all in all it’s true to place and producer.
Roses, violets, crushed black cherry and macerated wild blackberries, cocoa, woodsmoke, aged ham, granite. Really enjoy the integration of the WC fermentation here. The acid is keen, energetic. Tannins are a touch drying on the finish, it still shows its oak influence at this point. There’s some room for integration on that front, but all in all it’s true to place and producer.
Dec 21st, 2018at a #steakhouse looking for a (rare) deal? 💵 hit "St. Joseph," which is a medium- to full-framed, plum-violet, mineral-laced stand-in for the more expensive and complex wines of northern Rhône, such as Hermitage and Côte Rôtie - this killer St Cosme 🍷 was plummy, savory, graphite-y and smooth with Benjamin Steak's perfectly grilled boeuf
at a #steakhouse looking for a (rare) deal? 💵 hit "St. Joseph," which is a medium- to full-framed, plum-violet, mineral-laced stand-in for the more expensive and complex wines of northern Rhône, such as Hermitage and Côte Rôtie - this killer St Cosme 🍷 was plummy, savory, graphite-y and smooth with Benjamin Steak's perfectly grilled boeuf
Jan 10th, 2018
Blood orange peel, blueberry and kalamata. Excellent varietal character and length.
Blood orange peel, blueberry and kalamata. Excellent varietal character and length.
Dec 30th, 2017
Beautiful wine. Not overly complex but one hell of a Syrah from an always producer who continues to over deliver
Beautiful wine. Not overly complex but one hell of a Syrah from an always producer who continues to over deliver
Dec 1st, 2017
Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits
Intense deep cherry juice notes and spicy acidity. Nice tannin
Intense deep cherry juice notes and spicy acidity. Nice tannin
2 people found it helpfulFeb 11th, 2014