Winemaker Notes
The wines that come from these parcels are profound and serious, with spicy, liquorice notes and chewy tannins which give them extraordinary cellaring capacity.
Blend: 50% Grenache, 50% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre, Santa Duc's 2021 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is a terrific wine, starting with its complex scents of garrigue and crushed stone, then moving through the ripe fruit notes of purple raspberries, black cherries and plums and into the rich, creamy-textured palate. This medium to full-bodied effort is densely concentrated, with a long, gently tannic finish.
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
Jeb Dunnuck
Lastly, the 2021 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is the flagship release and comes from older vines around the estate, on the lower plateau. Based on equal parts Grenache and Mourvèdre that was not destemmed and was raised in Stockinger foudres and 20% in terracotta, it has lots of wild strawberry, peppery garrigue, and leather notes to go with a juicy, lively, vibrant style on the palate. It's balanced and has the vintage’s fresher, focused style, fine tannins, and outstanding length. It's going to have 10-12 years of prime drinking and should clearly be an outstanding wine.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Vinous
Elegant to the core, the 2021 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues dazzles with fragrant orange peel, rose petal, raspberry, blueberry and black cherry. Minty and earthy gradations complement the aromatic profile. Firm tannins frame this medium to full-bodied 2021 red, giving way to a stimulating finish. Readers should note that the addition of the word Préstige to the wine name was removed, as winemaker and proprietor Benjamin Gras felt it was too generic.
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Wine Spectator
Tannins make this nicely textured version tight, with notes of spices, pomegranate and wild cherry, offering plenty of floral charm. Shows the firm, taut profile of the vintage, but with real pedigree and good stuffing. Grenache and Mourvèdre. 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.