Winemaker Notes
Produced from old vines in limestone-rich soil, this GSM blend is predominantly Grenache and displays exceptional concentration and elegance. Grippy tannins and plush body are structured yet smooth, highlighted by bright acidity. The mineral-driven palate reveals a beautiful balance of fruit and savory notes, as ripe blueberry and strawberry flavors mingle with black pepper, fresh green herbs, earth, resin, and anise for a taste of classic Gigondas terroir.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
This is very full-bodied and concentrated. A solid, hefty style, deep rooted and centred with orange peel, pomegranate and raspberry. It’s powerful and energetic with muscular tannins though still fresh. It will impress in time. Biodynamically-grown on calcareous marl from Cretaceous period, all destemmed, spends 18 months in recent 3,600l Stockinger barrels and 8,00l amphorae.
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Wine Enthusiast
This Grenache-dominant blend (accented by 10% each of Mourvèdre and Syrah) is sourced from terraced slopes of limestone-rich marl on Santa Duc's monopole vineyard, Clos Derrière. Compared to the producer's other Gigondas bottlings, it's a distinctly floral, herbaceously perfumed red that contrasts potent blackberry and cherry flavors against streaks of smoked garrigue, fresh thyme and lavender. Weighty yet silken, the piercing red finishes on salty, chalky earth tones. Delicious young, the wine should drink gorgeously well past 2030.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, all grown in a limestone-rich clos, the 2018 Gigondas Clos Derriere Vieille is floral and resinously herbal, with stemmy notes accenting mixed berries. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and ripe yet vibrant, with ample complexity allied to admirable acid-tannin balance. It should drink well for up to a decade.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Gigondas Clos Derriere Vieille comes from older vines behind the village, and it shows a more complex, stemmy, old-school style while still possessing purity and elegance that’s the hallmark of this estate today. Lovely notes of wild strawberries, blueberries, and sappy garrigue and pepper all emerge from this more medium to full-bodied, seamless 2018 that has plenty of upfront charm yet should evolve gracefully for 10 to 12 years.
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.