Gigondas Rouge 2019 – Brunel De La Gardine.

Neighbouring France’s famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation there is a lesser known brother, one that does not catch the spotlight its brother gets. Maybe its the name and fame, the long history of Châteauneuf-du-Pape or simply the size, but Gigondas very much has its own character and its worth to discover. Today we are taking one of the exemplary reds from this AOC. A Gigondas Rouge by Chateau De La Gardine.

About the Region

The town of Gigondas itself, which is the center of the appellation, is small and easy to miss if it was not for the bordering mountain (Montmirail). It only has about 600 inhabitants, but this region managed to get its own AOC status (or as the French refer to it “Cru”) in 1971. The AOC lies completely in the village borders and can be found at the foot of the mountain “les Dentelles de Montmirail” close to the famous Mont Ventoux.

Gigondas is rich of a lot of old vineyards with old vines. These are situated in a patchwork blanket of terroirs with a large variety of soil types creating immense diversity. The Cru status is awarded for red wines from Gigondas, not yet for white (application for this is on-going). Whites are brought to market under the more generic “Côtes du Rhône Blanc”.

Size of the appellation is roughly 1,200 hectares (opposed to the 3,134 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape) with a focus on Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre for the red blends. For the whites it is much about Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne and Roussanne.

About the Winery 

Chateau De La Gardine lies in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation but owns vineyards throughout the Rhône region. The Brunel family that owns it is in the wine trade since 1670. Characterising for their wines is the unique bottle shape that sets them apart.

The core of the estate consists of 54 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In 1963 an additional 48 hectares Rasteau and Côtes-du-Rhône Villages where added. The latest expansion In 1998 led to 40 more hectares in the Lirac appellation.

For their brand “Brunel De La Gardine” a range has been developed consisting of some chosen Crus of the Northern and Southern Rhône Valley. One of them is this Gigondas.

About the Wine 

This Gigondas Rouge is a primary combination of Grenache and Syrah, the two leading characters in the Rhone region. Raised in a combination of stainless-steel tanks and oak barrels (8-10 months) this ruby red wine combines primary notes of red fruit and spiciness with added body and structure. On the palette it enfolds itself as a rich and powerful wine with strong acidity, moderate tannins and a fleshy structure at an ABV of 14.5%. 

The wine strongly benefits from some air before consumption and still has some ageing potential. We see further development within the next 5-8 years. The power and alcohol level make this wine a good choice as a food pairing, for instance with warm rich dishes like game meat (rabbit or deer) or a hearty stew. Perfect for the autumn season!

In conclusion: a nice example of what Gigondas has to offer. Not a lightweight wine but still fruity and fresh, with complexity and depth.

Imported in The Netherlands by Vinites and available through associated retailers and restaurants. 

Price:                           €27,65

Taste date:                  October 2022

Score:                           92/100 DWA Score

Website:                      Chateau De La Gardine