Lovely nose of sweet, ripe raspberry, dark cherry, blackberry, sage, white pepper, olive, licorice, violet, and just the right amount of earthy, smoky, and meaty character. The sweet, savoury, and earthy elements bring great tension and balance on the palate, along with notes of cocoa and a bit of menthol. Medium-full bodied, round and supple, but with substantial tannins that still have some grip to them. The finish is quite long. This wine is drinking well now but could certainly last (and develop further) another 5-10 years. Tasted January 2016.

Very nice Gigondas. a GS blend (no Mourvedre), medium to full body. The nose is deceptive, as it reveals little of what is to come (if you open it a good half hour prior to pouring, that could help). Nice long finish.

A nice value for Gigondas, this is an elegant and refined yet still quite rustic blend of old vines Granache and Syrah. It opens with a huge, marvellous hit of black pepper, so common to the region, and then presents aromas and flavours of blackberry, blueberry, plum, earth, cinnamon, and garrigue, with just a hint of meatiness. And it has a nicely evolved structure with tart blackberry acidity and fine-grained tannins, ample depth and excellent length, without ever seeming heavy. But with admiration for its overall balance, it's too reserved and it just seems to lack a certain profundity.