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.
First elaborated in 2009, Le Lieu Dit is a parcel of old-vine Grenache planted on sand with north and northwestern exposure. At 210 meters in elevation and surrounded by forest, this site is late-ripening and low-yielding, averaging only 16hl/ha. It is fermented with 30% whole clusters and by natural yeasts and is aged in only neutral 600L French oak demi-muids.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit is a real triumph. Harvested late (on the 24th of October), it offers jewel-like red fruits paired with elements of orange blossom, crushed violets, licorice and a peppery twist. Coming in at 15.3% alcohol, the 2021 effortlessly harmonizes its vibrant complexity with both power and refinement. The extended finish is deliciously savory. This includes 40% whole cluster fermentation.
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Decanter
Highly perfumed, with intense menthol, polished woods, Turkish Delight and blood orange. Even more so than La Colline this year. Intense herbal notes, like fresh oregano, ending fine, with good acidity and ripe tannin. Highly atypical in its heady perfume - some will love this, others will not. Hard to score, therefore! This is a single-vineyard selection of Grenache on sandy soils, exposed northwest. Aged for 18 months in demi-muids.
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Jeb Dunnuck
In the same ballpark, the 2021 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is another pretty, floral, incredibly elegant Gigondas that has terrific framboise and strawberry fruits, medium body, silky tannins, no hard edges, lots of spicy, peppery, Provençal garrigue, soft tannins, and outstanding length. It's another beautiful, elegant, seamless Gigondas to enjoy over the coming decade.
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Wine Spectator
Aromatically enticing, with violet, lavender and vanilla perfume overlaying plum paste, blackberry and linzer torte notes. Fresh and stylish, with a lighter profile of the vintage. Showing impressive textural purity, this glides to a clean finish, pulsing with energy and accents of salted herbs and singed alder. Drink now through 2032.
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.