Gigondas Domaine Grapillon D`Or ‘ Southern Rhone, France 2016

Gold medal winning Gigondas from Celine and Bernard Chauvet. 

The ageing of this wine is done in oak barrels, for 14 months, allowing the wine to air, to acquire roundness and soften its tannins. This wine is Estate-bottled. A brilliant deep ruby red colour with intense aromas of red fruits, pepper, spice and liquorice. It’s a full bodied and powerful wine, well balanced with a very long finish. Very rich and elegant and a must for Rhone fans.

Awards

2016 Domaine du Grapillon d’Or • Gigondas Excellence (94-96)

Still in a combination of concrete and steel, the 2016 Gigondas Excellence looks even better than it did last year. Plum, cola and blueberry notes mingle on the nose of this 60-40 Grenache-Syrah blend. It’s full-bodied and supple, long, complete and youthful. It’s set to be released in Fall 2019. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. August 2018. The Wine Advocate – Joe Czerwinski.

 

2017 Domaine du Grapillon d’Or • Gigondas (91-93)

An 80-20 Grenache-Syrah blend, the 2017 Gigondas boasts blackberry and mulberry fruit. It’s dark and intense but already approachable, being full-bodied, supple and graced with soft, gentle tannins. Crisp acids on the finish make a pleasant counterpoint without being jarring, serving to bring focus and length. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. The Wine Advocate – Joe Czerwinski.

 

2018 Domaine du Grapillon d’Or • Gigondas (91-93)

There will be no Excellence this year, so all of the old-vine material is in the 2018 Gigondas. It’s dark-fruited (blackberries and black cherries), full-bodied and velvety, with terrific balance and ripeness, even if it’s slightly less concentrated and more peppery than the previous two vintages. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. The Wine Advocate – Joe Czerwinski.