Winemaker Notes
#67Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2010
When young, the "Terrasse du Diable"cuvée has the minerality, freshness and sometimes overbearing tannins of high-lying terroirs. The best vintages can age for more than 20 years.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The sensational 2007 Gigondas Les Terraces de Diable reveals gloriously sweet black cherry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with notions of licorice, loamy soil, and roasted herbs. With terrific fruit density, a full-bodied richness, and striking elegance and precision, it should drink well for 15 or more years.
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Wine Spectator
Polished and pure, with delicious layers of plum sauce, braised fig and melted licorice that glide through the dense but silky-textured finish. Hints of graphite and incense lurk in the background. Long, with buried minerality. Should age nicely. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Clairette. Drink now through 2015.
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.