10:37 PM
Ichihiro
The village of Gigondas is nestled in the hills of the Dentelles mountains. It is almost a dividing point between the lower, flatter plain and the higher, hilly area. The two ridges of the Dentelles are located just south of the village and run east-west. The vineyards closer to the river Ouveze lie at 100-150 meters where the stonier soils contain less clay. Those nestled against the Dentelles reach 600 meters where there is rich, yellowish clay soils. The Saint Cosme estate is located just north-east of the village. The estate of Boussiere is located south-east of the village, high-up on the nothern side of the Dentelles Sarrasines. Grand Montmirail is located at the extreme south-eastern limits of the Gigondas region on the south side of the Col d'Alsau and La Salle at middle elevation of 300 meters.
I recently purchased all three of these wines from MacArthurs. Of these three wines my heart was captured by the Bouissiere which I strongly recommend you try. There is an elegance to this wine lent by the high altitude vineyard where the Syrah grows quite well. Indeed this wine has the highest proportion of Syrah. I also recommend you try the Saint Cosme. This is not rustic Gigondas, instead it is a full-bore, concentrated, tannic Gigondas that needs age and will last for over a decade. The Brusset was a decent drink and though it changed personalities over two nights, it never achieved its balance. The Bouissiere is imported byDionysos Import and available for $27. The Brusset is imported by Simon N Cellars and available for $27. The Saint Cosme is imported by The Country Vintner and available for $35.
2009 Domaine La Bouissiere, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah that was aged for a year in both tank and 1-3 year old barrels. The nose is clean with fruity red fruit and delicate finesse. In the mouth the elegant red fruit has a powdery texture with good weight which expands in the finish. The lovely fruit has sweet spice, licorice, and incense notes before minerally/steely notes come out in the aftertaste. This is a pleasure to drink but will develop and last.
This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah that was aged for a year in both tank and 1-3 year old barrels. The nose is clean with fruity red fruit and delicate finesse. In the mouth the elegant red fruit has a powdery texture with good weight which expands in the finish. The lovely fruit has sweet spice, licorice, and incense notes before minerally/steely notes come out in the aftertaste. This is a pleasure to drink but will develop and last.
2009 Domaine Brusset, Tradition Le Grand Montmirail, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault. The wine was aged 60% in vats and 40% in 2-4 year old demi-muids. There was a dark, fruity nose. In the mouth the flavors were darker and richer than the Bouissiere. The flavors integrated with textured tannins and herbs in the finish. This showed less liveliness and acidity than the Bouissiere. On the second night there was a slight floral quality to the nose. The mouth was better balanced and felt coiled, with ripe and sweet blue fruit flavors. It became spicy in the finish, with some heat.
This wine is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault. The wine was aged 60% in vats and 40% in 2-4 year old demi-muids. There was a dark, fruity nose. In the mouth the flavors were darker and richer than the Bouissiere. The flavors integrated with textured tannins and herbs in the finish. This showed less liveliness and acidity than the Bouissiere. On the second night there was a slight floral quality to the nose. The mouth was better balanced and felt coiled, with ripe and sweet blue fruit flavors. It became spicy in the finish, with some heat.
2009 Chateau de Saint Cosme, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 17% Mourvedre, and 3% Cinsault. The wine was aged for 12 months in 70% 1-4 year old wood barrels and 30% in cement and wood tanks. This was salty, rich, and clearly the most concentrated of these three bottles. There were lots of fine+ tannins and spicey flavors in this wine which is cleary youthful and primary. On the second night it was still concentrated with blue and red fruits, unyielding, and contained lots of drying, fine tannins in the aftertaste. This will greatly benefit from short term aging and should last for some time.
This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 17% Mourvedre, and 3% Cinsault. The wine was aged for 12 months in 70% 1-4 year old wood barrels and 30% in cement and wood tanks. This was salty, rich, and clearly the most concentrated of these three bottles. There were lots of fine+ tannins and spicey flavors in this wine which is cleary youthful and primary. On the second night it was still concentrated with blue and red fruits, unyielding, and contained lots of drying, fine tannins in the aftertaste. This will greatly benefit from short term aging and should last for some time.
[ WINE ] [ FRANCE ]
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