Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2007 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes, a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre from 40-year-old vines, boasts a saturated ruby/purple color as well as an exquisite bouquet of incense, crushed rocks, charcoal, black raspberries, kirsch, and blackberries, an incredibly broad, savory mouthfeel, stunning density, and a finish that goes on for 40+ seconds. This remarkable offering is one of the most prodigious wines I have ever tasted from Gigondas. It should drink well for two decades or more.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A phenomenal value and a wine you should fill the cellar with, the 2007 Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is a tank aged blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that’s from the estate’s youngest vines (a mere 40 to 50 year-old vines.) Serious stuff, it exhibits gorgeously complex, almost gamey, aromas of licorice infused plum and blackberry fruit that’s intermixed with wild herb, saddle leather, exotic spices, and serious background minerality and dusty stone notes. Rich and full on the palate, with a more open, fleshy profile than its two other siblings, this is full bodied with a rich, mouth coating texture, loads of depth and concentration, and a long finish that highlights sweet fruit and solid, chewy tannin.
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.