Winemaker Notes
A ruby-purple color. A fresh and expressive nose, on small red berries, morello cherry, cherry, licorice sweet, plum and kirsch. Tannins of great finesse and freshness, all the typicity of the sands.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from a sandy parcel just beside the winery and all old-vine Grenache, the 2018 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit makes the most of this vintage and is a classic example of this cooler terroir. Gorgeous notes of kirsch liqueur, rose petals, strawberries, spring flowers, toasted spices, and peppery herbs all give way to a full-bodied, beautifully textured, elegant Gigondas that has a wonderful sense of finesse, classic southern Rhône power and richness, flawless balance, and a great finish. It’s one of the wines of the vintage. While it’s not the biggest wine in the lineup, it has incredible finesse and elegance.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit (100% Grenache, grown on sand) is a profound success, boasting subtle garrigue aromas that lend layers of complexity to the bold black cherry and raspberry fruit. It's not overly dark in the glass, but seduces with its perfume and silken touch. Full-bodied, but supple and charming, this is a top-notch effort, capped off by a long, mouthwatering finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Sourced from 60-year-old vines planted in sandy soil, this varietal Grenache offers gob smacking ripeness alongside freshness. It’s a big, richly extracted wine but the red-plum and cherry flavors are vibrant, lifted by minerality and pert, upright acidity. Silky tannin's accentuate the rippling mouthfeel. Ready to drink now, the wine is solid enough to improve through 2030 and hold longer. Editors’ Choice.
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Wine Spectator
A fresh, focused style, with a red fruit profile of currant, damson plum and raspberry infused with rooibos tea, singed cedar, mineral and light savory notes. Approachable now, but there's racy grip on the back end and plenty in reserve to make this worth cellaring as well.
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.