Winemaker Notes
Purple in color. Intense nose dominated by peach and apricot with licorice and notes of undergrowth. Generous, powerful, and full-bodied with a long elegant finish. A frank attack, racy with soft tannic structure.
Robust and generous, this Gigondas is characterised by its power and structured tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Guigal's 2018 Gigondas boasts floral, garrigue-laced aromas that lend complexity to notes of stone fruit and red raspberries. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's also supple and silky in feel, with a ripe, harmonious feel and a lingering finish. It's a testament to the Guigals' relationships in the appellation that this is one of their most delicious and consistent bottlings.
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Wine Spectator
A perfumed, old school style, with a slightly sinewy edge to its mix of red currant, Damson and bitter cherry notes, while dusty sandalwood, incense and dried savory details dot the finish. Approachable now too, but has the cut for modest cellaring. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now.
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.