Spotted this oddball of a wine at a local market and couldn't resist. Why?
First, it's from the venerable Rhone producer Sainte Cosme, known to make some very reliable Cotes du Rhone and higher-end reds, so how wrong can it go? Second, it's a blend of grenache (70%) and pinot noir in a land where blending pinot is often associated with scandal - and it's unapologetically labeled as such. And thought it's labeled with a year, the preceding French words mean that it was bottled in 2023, not harvested then. So, it is, in fact, a non-vintage wine. Finally, it's a Vin de France, which is the most broad geographic designation for wines in France. In other words, it's a blend of grapes that could have come from anywhere in the country.
For snobby wine-o's, this is just a long series of gasp-inducing faux pas. Aside from the producer, there is absolutely no pedigree to be found here. Which is why I couldn't resist.
NV Saint Cosme Grenache-Pinot Noir Vin de France 'Micro-Cosme' $17
Yes, this is pleasant surprise. Nothing mind blowing, but the world definitely needs more wines like this: lively, fresh, honest, and just plain drinkable. You can taste both the grenache and the pinot noir if you think hard enough about it, but for the quaffable red such as this one, here's no thought required. As my friend Paul remarked, a wine to match with a nice view, some local cheese and bread, and good friends. 91 points.
