Winemaker Notes
Beautiful garnet robe, fine and clear. The nose is rich with spicy notes, licorice, espresso roast, plum. On the palate, this wine is round with a velvety texture, with fresh well blended tannins giving a fine persistence in end note.
Blend: 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The modern-styled 2021 Gigondas Bois Des Mourres has some spicy oak as well as solid darker red and black fruits, some floral and savory herb notes, medium body, good overall balance, and outstanding length. It's a little foursquare and firm at the moment and will benefit from just a few years of bottle age.
Rating: 90+ -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Gigondas Bois des Mourres is relatively restrained on the nose, but the wine boasts plenty of ripe cherries on the palate. A blend of 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, this medium to full-bodied effort is quite big, supple and rich for the vintage, with a long, velvety finish.
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Vinous
The 2021 Gigondas Bois des Mourres spent ten months in French oak barriques—some new and some second-fill. As a result, wood marks the aromatic profile at this stage. Behind the vanilla, wood smoke and clove layers hides strawberry jam, alongside traces of mint and licorice. Allow this concentrated and structured 2021 red at least one more year in bottle.
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.