2016 Montirius Gigondas Confidentiel, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

This wine was aged in a single concrete tank.  It is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedere.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first.  With air, it shows black cherries, plums and dust.  It is very deep but quite tight with firm tannins at the moment.  It opens to carry the plums thru to the palate and also some black raspberries.  Clean.  Wonderful mouthfeel.  This needs about three to five more years and then should drink well for twelve to fifteen years.  

2016 Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Another classic Gigondas producer.  From the stellar 2016 vintage.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with earthy black cherries and roasted herbs.  Great texture.  Black cherry fruit, cinnamon and herbs over char and earth.  Tight complexity.  Nice finish.  This is packed tightly and slowly unwinds in the glass.  It probably needs another five to seven years to mature and should be good for ten to twelve after that.  If drinking soon, decant for a few hours.  It drinks great on its own this calls out for something fatty; lamb stew would work well.  

2010 Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Cuvée "Le Lieu Dit", France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Great showing for this wine.  In a recent tasting of Gigondas wines, this finished as the groups favorite wine.  It was the oldest wine in the tasting suggesting that ten years is a very nice sweet spot for the better wines of Gigondas.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, coffee with underlying herbs and earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Tart black cherries on the palate with underlying minerality.  Also spices with a hint of lavender.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This is drinking at peak now but should give at least five to seven more years a

2017 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

A classic Gigondas producer.  A blend of 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, with the rest made up of Cinsault and Mourvèdre.  Ruby in color (a bit lighter), mostly clear and bright.  Lovely nose with raspberries and bitter cherries.  Some herbs come out with air.  On the palate, a slight cough syrup quality, but very tasty.  The alcohol is a bit noticeable at first but it blows off with some air.  Light tannins.  Cherry, bitter cherry and raspberries over a bit of alcohol and char.  Some herbs and spice mix in as well.  Long finish.  This should improve over the next few years and drink great for ten

2014 Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas Les Souteyrades, France, Rhones, WIne Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Gigondas can offer great values on a Chateauneuf styled wine for a lot less money.  This is a great example.  And coming, from a less than great vintage, this is drinking quite well at age 5.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is tight but with air opens to show raspberries, black cherries, char and spice.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Juicy and full bodied.  Black cherry fruit over a bed of spice, earth and char.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This won't get better but should be at this level for another five to ten years.  It will go well with stews or roasts.  

2016 Domaine du Grand Montmirail Gigondas Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

This was from Magnum.  Deep purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, garrique and char.  On the palate, this is as good as many Chateauneuf du Papes.  Deep black raspberry notes with underlying charred wood.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is young and has at least a decade left and probably more.  The juiciness and char would make it great with burgers or steaks on the grill.  At $43 for a Magnum, this is a great value.  

2016 Alain Jaume & Fils Gigondas Terrasses de Montmirail, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is very good and for $30 a nice value.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight mocha, spice and plums.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy and plush.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  The mocha note carries thru.  Medium to full bodied.  Good acidity.  Delicious.  Will work with heavier foods (think cassoulet).  This has some upscale with future development and should be good for another decade, maybe more.  

2006 Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas Valbelle, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Gigondas is often thought of as a "poor man's" Chateauneuf du Pape and for a lot of reasons that is true.  But, the best Gigondas producers are certainly on a par with many of the better Chateauneufs and Saint-Cosme is certainly one of the best Gigondas producers.  At 12 years from vintage, this seems to be at about peak.  2006 was a very good if not remarkable vintage.  Being caught between the classic 2005 and the ostentatious 2007, it got a bit over looked.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, spice, minerals, slight tobacco/dried leaves and dried cherries.  On the palate, this

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