TOP 10 BEST GIGONDAS WINES | Vintage Classification

Things to know about Gigondas

? Gigondas is a village in the southern Rhône valley, with its own appellation for Grenache-based red and rosé wines. The terroir covers 1,230 hectares. The appellation occupies an area covering the base and slopes of the first foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The villages of Beaumes-de-Venise and Vacqueyras are located to the south and west of the appellation respectively. Gigondas and benefit from very similar growing conditions. The terroir is characterized by a hot, dry Mediterranean climate and a combination of limestone soils (on the slopes of Montmirail to the east) and rocky, sandy, free-draining soils (on the flatter terrain to the north and lower to the west).

Red and rosé wines are made mainly from Grenache (up to 80 % according to appellation laws), with varying amounts of Syrah and Mourvèdre, the two varieties with which Grenache is most commonly blended in the region. Any Gigondas wine may contain a maximum of 10% of any variety sanctioned by the standard Côtes du Rhône appellation laws (with the exception of Carignan). The Grand Vin style achieved under the appellation is often likened to that of wines from Chateauneuf du Pape, just 17 km to the southwest, but Gigondas prices are generally lower.

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GREAT VINTAGES AND BEST GIGONDAS VINTAGES

RANKING OF THE BEST GIGONDAS WINES AND VINTAGES BY ROBERT PARKER & THE WINE ADVOCATE

 

• TOP 1: Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas "Hominis Fides

Louis Barruol du Château de St Cosme has been at the top of his game since the late 1990s. In recent vintages, it has produced some of the finest wines in the Southern Rhône and France. The glories here are the unique Barruol vineyard/Gigondas special cuvées, but consumers shouldn't overlook the exceptional value offered by its Côtes du Rhône.

Tasting of 2010, 100/100 by Robert Parker: 
"Pure perfection, the Gigondas Hominis Fides 2010 (200 cases produced) offers exquisite richness, an extraordinary bouquet of red, black and blue fruits, blended with charcoal, subtle new oak, forest floor and spice box. With fabulous richness, massive mouthfeel, finesse and subtlety that belie its weight, weight, richness, precision and delineated character, this remarkable Gigondas may be the best wine I've ever tasted from this appellation. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the next two decades."

Best vintages of Gigondas Hominis Fides : 2010, 2007, 2015, 2011, 2016

 

• TOP 2: Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas "Le Poste

 

 

Tasting of 2010, 99/100 by Robert Parker:
"A near-perfect performance. Its inky/blue/purple color is followed by aromas of flowers, blackberries, blueberries, ripe berries, graphite and camphor. It offers an aromatic blend of wonderful scents and hits the palate with a full-bodied, tonic mouthfeel revealing all its texture. Magnificent structure and a finish lasting over 45 seconds. An incredible feat of winemaking from Louis Barruol."

Best vintages of Gigondas Le Poste : 2010, 2016, 2007, 2017, 2012

 

• TOP 3: Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas "Prestige des Hautes Garrigues

 

 

This is a prestigious estate Gigondas that's going from strength to strength. Visit Santa Duc estate is run by the Gras family. Yves Gras is one of the great personalities of the southern Rhône region.

Tasting of 2007, 98/100 by Robert Parker:
"Colorful, another monster rich in fruit and texture. The Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues 2007 is still closed (tasted February 2017) and loaded with notes of smoked meats, ripe currants, black raspberries, garrigue and chocolate. Still young and dynamic, with its oak ageing covered in an abundance of fruit, it possesses incredible purity, ripe tannins and a finish that simply doesn't tire. Count yourself among the lucky ones if you have any in your cellar."

Best vintages of Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues : 2007, 2010, 2001, 2009, 2005 

 

• TOP 4: Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas "Le Claux

 

Tasting of 2010, 98/100 by Robert Parker:
"A wine made from vines planted in limestone soils. A great wine with subtle notes of earth, black fruit and flowers, as well as a huge, full-bodied, pleasant mouthfeel. Acidity, structure and tannin on the finish. It will benefit from 15 to 20 years of cellaring. Drink until 2034.

Best vintages of Gigondas Le Claux : 2010, 2007, 2012, 2011, 2016, 2015

 

• TOP 5: Domaine St Damien Gigondas "Les Souteyrades

Tasting of the 2007, 98/100 by Jeb Dunnuck:
"Deeper and richer, with just a little more purity than Louisiana (the estate's other great cuvée), the blockbuster 2007 Gigondas les Souteyrades (80 % Grenache and 20 % Mourvèdre) is full-bodied and decadent. There are huge notes of blackcurrant meat, smoked meat, licorice and roasted Provençal herbs. Its ripe, sweet tannins add further attention to the finish, and this is a sensational, unctuous, heavenly tour de force in Gigondas."

Best vintages of Gigondas Les Souteyrades : 2007, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2011 

 

• TOP 6: Domaine Santa Duc "Grand Grenache 66

 

 

Tasting of 2007 rated 97+/100 by Jeb Dunnuck (Oct. 2009):
"The estate's new wine is an incredible achievement. It could easily rival, if not eclipse, Hautes Garrigues of the same vintage with 5 to 6 years of bottle age. Gigondas Grand Grenache 66 2007 is made from one of Yves Gras' oldest Grenache grape varieties. The color is dark violet and the wine more backward than the Hautes Garrigues, which is somewhat surprising. Notes of crushed rock (chalk), kirsch and darker fruits, mixed with hints of truffles and forest floor, are followed by a full-bodied wine of sensational concentration, with massive extract and high tannins. This wine possesses great purity and is bursting with potential. It should keep for over 25 years. It's a great effort and well worth seeking out."

Best years of Gigondas Grand Grenache 66 : 2007, 2010, 2009, 2014, 2012

 

• TOP 7: Perrin family Gigondas "Clos des Tourelles

Domaine Perrin is managed by Pierre, Thomas, Marc and Mathieu Perrin. The Perrin family owns the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate, Château de Beaucastel. Domaine Perrin wines are impeccably crafted and reflect the true nature of the terroir from which they come. The wines produced are all from Châteauneuf-du-Pape's neighboring appellations in the Southern Rhône, such as Vacqueyras and Gigondas. The reds are based on Grenache, but with other Rhône grape varieties, such as Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Les Perrins is one of the Rhône Valley's most reliable winegrowing families.

2016 tasting, 97/100 by Joe Czerwinski (Oct. 2018):
"Fully aged in foudres, the 2016 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles is an incredible effort that can match Beaucastel's Châteauneuf-du-Pape for this vintage. You taste all the components - raspberries, cherries, tree bark, blueberries and spices - but they meld perfectly into a full-bodied, rich, weightlessly long and extremely agile wine. Yes, there's an early-drinking appeal, but it should keep easily until around 2035."

Best vintages of Gigondas Clos des Tourelles : 2016, 2012, 2017, 2015, 2014

 

TOP 8: Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas "La Colline

This estate has been brought to the top of Gigondas and the Southern Rhône by the talent and dynamism of the Brechet family, notably young Julien Brechet and consultant Philippe Cambie. Covering some 26 hectares, the estate produces three Gigondas cuvées: a traditional cuvée, La Colline and Le Lieu Dit.

2015 Tasting, 96-99/100 by Jeb Dunnuck:
"From a small corner plot in the La Colline vineyard, the 2015 Gigondas La Colline is quite sensational. It's predominantly Grenache, which includes a touch of whole bunches and is further aged in demi-muids for one to three years. It has a huge nose of black raspberries, cassis, roasted spices and garrigue in a stacked, full-bodied, concentrated and weightless style. It's certainly with the handful of wines of the vintage not to be missed!"

Best vintages of Gigondas La Colline : 2015, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

 

• TOP 9: Famille Perrin Gigondas "L'Argnée Vieilles Vignes

 

 

Tasting of the 2012 rated 94-97/100 by Jeb Dunnuck:
"One of the appellation's superstars, the Gigondas l'Argnée Vieilles Vignes 2012 is blockbuster material. Still in barrel and showing even better than last year, it offers quick notes of kirsch, blackberry, dried earth and flowers for impressive depth and richness on the palate. Coming from sandy soils and pre-Phylloxera Grenache vines, it has exhilarating purity, ultra-fine tannins, big mouthfeel and terrific length. This is a prodigious Gigondas that will have two decades of longevity..."

Best vintages of Gigondas La Colline : 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

 

 

• TOP 10: Domaine Les Pallières Gigondas "Les Racines

 

 

Owned by the Brunier family of Domaine de Vieux Télégraphe and American importer Kermit Lynch, this estate is one of the flagship wines of Gigondas. The two cuvées, Terrasse de Diable and Les Racines, are outstanding in the appellation. They are aged strictly in foudres, allowing the differences in grape variety and site to stand out clearly.

Tasting of the 2016 rated 94-96/100 by Joe Czerwinski: 
"The 2016 Gigondas Les Racines was in its foudres at the time of my visit, but I still think it's the equal of the Brunier family's Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Full-bodied and rich, yet silky and almost lacy in texture, it marries raspberry and apricot notes with lovely herbaceous nuances to close on a lingering finish. This is a gigantic Gigondas, made from 75-year-old vines (80 % of Grenache)."

Best vintages of Gigondas Les Racines : 2016, 2017, 2015

 

 

How to enjoy a Gigondas wine?

To enjoy a Gigondas wine, here are a few tips:

 

• Examine the color: Hold your glass of white wine at a slight angle and observe the wine's color. A red Gigondas wine will generally have an intense ruby color with violet highlights.
• Smell the aromas: Bring your nose close to the glass and inhale gently. Try to identify the wine's aromas. Gigondas wines may have notes of ripe red fruit, spices, garrigue and licorice.
• Swirl the wine: Gently swirl the wine in your glass to release its aromas.
• Take a sip: Take a small sip of wine and let it flow into your mouth. Try to perceive the different flavors and structure of the wine. Gigondas wines are generally full-bodied, with present but well-integrated tannins.
• Evaluate length and finish: After swallowing or spitting out the wine, evaluate the length and persistence of flavors on the palate. A good Gigondas wine should have a pleasant, persistent finish.
• Food pairings: Gigondas wines go well with Mediterranean dishes, red meats, spicy dishes and cheeses. Feel free to experiment and find the pairings that please you.

 

 

 

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