Gigondas 2016 Les Hautes Garrigues - Domaine Santa Duc

In this historic terroir of the winery, our vines have been rooted since the winery was founded five generations ago in 1874. In 1852, the municipality of Gigondas decided to auction its 12 hectares of garrigue. Shortly after, the winegrowers planted the first vines and discovered the magnificent stony red clay soils of the Quaternary. The roots of the vines have to push through 8 meters of barren and draining alluvial soils before reaching the deeper basis of blue clay. The Grenache loves this soil, and here expresses its full power. As being replanted for many years the proportion of Mourvèdre steadily increases and today arrives at 40%. It brings the wine freshness, licorice aromas and structure. This terroir creates deep, reputable wines, with spice and a dense tannin structure, as well as an exceptional longevity.

Varieties : Grenache 65%, Mourvèdre 35%. (Old vines).

Vinification : Harvesting by hand with a strict selection process ; the whole harvest « macerates » for two months. Partial destemming.

Ageing : The wine ages in recent oak casks (foudres) ans terracotta jars for 18 months before bottling.

Terroir : A poor and stony Quaternary soil of red clay.