Winemaker Notes
Blend: 100% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Decadent and rich red with plum and blueberry aromas. Hints of spices and walnut shell. Full body, round and silky tannins and a juicy finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Gigault Cuvee Viva from the hands of Stephane Derenoncourt has an opulent, sensual bouquet with billowing crushed strawberry and Morello fruit - ostentatious at first although it finds more decorum as it mellow in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a crisp line of acidity. I appreciate the substance here, a big mouthful of Merlot, but there is structure and grip here, with good density on the finish. Afford it 2-3 years in bottle and you will have a delicious Côtes de Blaye.
Barrel Sample: 89-91 -
Vinous
Gigault's Cuvee Viva is a real overachiever in this vintage. Plump, flavorful and complex - especially in its peer group - the Cuvee Viva is a terrific, budget-friendly Bordeaux. Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco, dried flowers and licorice add character and nuance throughout. Drink this 100% Merlot over the next handful of years.
Rating: 90+ -
Wine Spectator
Fresh, with a racy edge, as a tangy mineral streak enlivens the core of red currant, plum and cherry fruit flavors. Light tobacco and singed vanilla notes score the finish. Shows good purity.
In most of France, wines are named by their place of origin and not by the type of grape (with the exception of Alsace). Just like a red Burgundy is by law, always made of Pinot noir, a red Bordeaux is a blended wine composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Depending on the laws of the village from which the grapes come, the conditions of the vintage and decisions of the winemaker, the blend can be further supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere. So popular and repeated has this mix of grape varieties become worldwide, that the term, Bordeaux Blend, refers to a wine blended in this style, regardless of origin.