Domaine du Terme Gigondas 2019
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Wine &
Spirits - Decanter
Product Details
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Wine & Spirits
Spectacular Gigondas, this wine’s red-cherry flavors soar on an arc of cool, fresh acidity. A grounding of garrigue and ferrous minerality tethers the wine to the earth, gives it a sense of continuity and quiet power, but the overall impression is of fruit at moment of peak ripeness, preserved with crystal clarity. It’s made by Anne-Marie Gaudin, who farms 27 acres in Gigondas, the vines around 45 years old and grown without any chemical inputs.
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Decanter
Straight from the first sniff it's clear this is going to be special. Soaring violets, plum flesh and blueberry, this is rounded and sweetly juicy with well-worked tannins that are present but fine and well melded into the fruit. Not the longest finish, but this is a great vintage for du Terme. Good value. 45-year-old vines on average, 80% destemmed, long fermentation and long élevage.
Other Vintages
2016-
Robert
Parker
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Wilfred
Wong -
Wine
Enthusiast
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
The Southern Rhône region of Gigondas extends northwest from the notably jagged wall of mountains called the Dentelles di Montmirail, whose highest point climbs to about 2,600 feet. The region and its wines have much in common with the neighboring Chateauneuf-du-Pape except that the vineyards of Gigondas exist at higher elevation and its soils, comprised mainly of crumbled limestone from the Dentelles, often produce a more dense and robust Grenache-based red wine.
The region has a history of fine winemaking, extending back to Roman times. But by the 20th century, Gigondas was merely lumped into the less distinct zone of Côtes du Rhône Villages. However, it was first among these satellite villages to earn its own appellation, which occurred in 1971.
Gigondas reds must be between 50 to 100% Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre comprising the bulk of the remainder of the blend. They tend express rustic flavors and aromas of wild blackberry, raspberry, fig, plum, as well as juniper, dried herbs, anise, smoke and river rock. The best are bold but balanced, and finish with impressively sexy and velvety tannins.
The Gigondas appellation also produces rosé but no white wines.