Winemaker Notes
Grenache is the pale-colored, red-fruited, and potpourri-scented red grape variety of the southern Rhône and can be paired with both rustic and sophisticated dishes. Full-bodied Grenache-based wines are ideal with stews, braises, and grilled meats, while lighter versions can work well with dark fish and tomato-based dishes such as ratatouille.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Perfumy and ripe, this red oozes soft black currant and lavender, showing a polished texture. A bitter mineral flash provides contrast, with mesquite, incense and singed garrigue on the lush finish. A spine of iron brings structure and drives the impressive length. There’s a lot to love. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2038.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Gigondas from Château de Saint-Cosme is especially promising, bursting with aromas of ripe black raspberries, red plums, garrigue, licorice and incense. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it’s rich without excess, with a layered core of fruit, powdery tannins and a bright, saline finish that lends a sense of energy and poise. As always, it’s a blend of multiple terroirs—limestone, marl and sandy soils—which lend the cuvée both depth and aromatic range. This will offer a great drinking window, but a few years in bottle will only enhance its complexity.
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Vinous
Ripe strawberry, raspberry and orange blossom leap from the glass of the delicious 2023 Gigondas. Immediately captivating and forward, this red Gigondas is a pure delight, delivering ripe red and black fruits with spicy tones across the full-bodied palate, neatly framed by polished tannins. It closes out with a dash of pomegranate.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on mostly Grenache that was not destemmed and was brought up in used barrels, the 2023 Gigondas offers charming red and black fruits, roasted garrigue, violets, and spice. It's round, lush, and supple, with solid tannic grip.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
The Southern Rhône region of Gigondas extends northwest from the notably jagged wall of mountains called the Dentelles di Montmirail, whose highest point climbs to about 2,600 feet. The region and its wines have much in common with the neighboring Chateauneuf-du-Pape except that the vineyards of Gigondas exist at higher elevation and its soils, comprised mainly of crumbled limestone from the Dentelles, often produce a more dense and robust Grenache-based red wine.
The region has a history of fine winemaking, extending back to Roman times. But by the 20th century, Gigondas was merely lumped into the less distinct zone of Côtes du Rhône Villages. However, it was first among these satellite villages to earn its own appellation, which occurred in 1971.
Gigondas reds must be between 50 to 100% Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre comprising the bulk of the remainder of the blend. They tend express rustic flavors and aromas of wild blackberry, raspberry, fig, plum, as well as juniper, dried herbs, anise, smoke and river rock. The best are bold but balanced, and finish with impressively sexy and velvety tannins.
The Gigondas appellation also produces rosé but no white wines.