2006 Château de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Blanc

The 2006 Cotes du Rhone white, which is a blend of 50% Roussanne and the rest Picpoul, Clairette, and Marsanne, is close to being outstanding. In fact, it is a relatively amazing wine with good orange marmalade notes intermixed with lemon oil, honeyed grapefruit, and other citrus. It is medium-bodied, fresh, lively, and an exceptional bargain in dry white southern Rhone wines. These are all negociant wines from the very talented Gigondas proprietor Louis Barruol. He has a small but flourishing negociant business in addition to his estate wines from Gigondas, and these are his cuvees from Cotes du Rhone. A Patrick Lesec Selection; Agent for the U.S. market: Chemin des Vins, Sherborn, MA; tel. (508) 545-1532