Winemaker Notes
The Roads is a place called that is located on the top of the Garrigues de Gigondas. Planted in a mass selection of Serine, from Fonsalette, offered by Jacques Reynaud to my brother in the 90s, and she herself being from a massale from Chave in Hermitage. Perfectly exposed, in a fairly early area, it is for the first time vinified pure in 2016. Purely raised in 228L barrels of 1 and 2 wines for 18 months, it will embody the finesse and racy of the Northern Syrah, transposed in a southern climate. It requires a great mastery of maturity, and when it does, it offers a vibrant balance
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Substantially darker in hue and flavor profile than the 2018 version, the 2019 Gigondas Les Routes features a smoky, bacony note atop garrigue and blueberry notes. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky-textured, long and fresh on the finish—an excellent wine, but one I'm not sure is going to turn out as fine or elegant as the impressive 2018.
Range: 93-95 -
Wine Spectator
This has a large core of steeped plum, blackberry and black cherry preserve flavors, laced liberally with notes of licorice root, violet, sweet bay and smoldering tobacco. The long, tarry-edged finish adds structure, but is content with a supporting role as it lets the fruit take an encore. It's going to be fun to watch this one age, as it has echoes of Fonsalette Cuvée Syrah in it. Petite Syrah. Best from 2024.
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Decanter
Full-bodied, more rounded than the Roche and exceptionally long. Plenty of cedar and cinnamon oak over the deep blackberry and star anise fruit. Mouthcoating fine tannins and fruit with good acidity. There's a touch of rosemary and black olive tapenade on the finish. It's a massive wine, highly complex, but not the most subtle or drinkable. Impressive though, and will certainly have its fans. Serine clone Syrah grown on clay with gravel and limestone colluviums near the Hautes Garrigues near the main road. Fairly young vines, massale selection from Chateau de Fonsalette, in organic conversion. It's hand-picked, leaving 10% whole bunch in the ferments, then aged for 18 months in 2-year-old barriques.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Gigondas Les Routes is also all Syrah, yet this comes from the Serine clone of Syrah, which always shows a dramatically different profile. More blue fruits, sappy herbs, cracked pepper, and violet notes dominate the bouquet, and it’s full-bodied, with ripe tannins and just a pure, seamless profile. It’s one hell of an impressive Syrah from the South that will have 15 years of prime drinking. Best after 2022.
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.