Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
This manages to take a wide range of fruits—loganberry, raspberry, blackberry, plum and more—and melds them all together with a coulis feel that retains freshness and precision, while extra notes of iron, tobacco, charcoal and espresso expand through the finish. This has serious weight and depth, with massive structure, but also chiseled cut thanks to vivacious acidity. Amazing from start to finish. Best from 2015 through 2035.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A close rival will certainly turn out to be the 2010 Gigondas Le Poste, which comes from pure limestone soils, and in this case is aged in 50% new oak and 50% one-year-old barrels. Dense purple, it possesses loads of blueberry, blackberry and black currant fruit notes intermixed with some licorice, camphor, graphite and spring flowers. Full-bodied, with good acidity and a hint of lead pencil shavings in the mouth, oodles of black fruits cascade over the palate in this lavishly concentrated, extravagant Gigondas that is so overloaded. Give it 6-7 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25+ years.
Range: 94-98
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.