Winemaker Notes
This 2014 is full of promises. A complex nose with rich notes of red and black fruit, the mouth is rich with a powerful and generous attack and the tannic texture is already balanced and elegant, with a long, racy finish.
Serve with a veal chop with morels or a crispy lamb breast.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
This has a core of gently mulled plum and red currant fruit inlaid with gentle menthol, bay leaf and tobacco accents. Lightly dusty tannins and an echo of juniper show on the finish. Nicely done for the vintage.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Gigondas la Gille comes almost all from estate fruit (there's some very old vine fruit from Franck Alexandre), and comes all from sandy soils, vinified with a more gentle extraction than the Beaucastel releases. From a difficult vintage, it's a smokin' wine that offers elegant, perfumed notes of kirsch, bouquet garni and black cherries on the nose. These give way to a medium-bodied, supple, seamless Gigondas that has more upfront charm and character than most in the vintage. While I doubt it will make old bones, it will certainly evolve nicely on its overall balance and harmony.
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.