Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Organic * 75cl * 14.5% ABV * Rhone Valley, France
This wine comes with an excellent pedigree, which perhaps explains the price for 'just a Gigondas'. The Perrin family are responsible for arguably the best Chateauneuf-du-Pape, coming as it does from their Chateau de Beaucastel estate in that appellation. Bringing their expertise to other villages, this Gigondas is made from an estate, just outside the fortified village walls. Made from ten hectares of vineyards, the vineyard of Les Tourelles is located on limestone and sandy soils that make for outstanding wines.
2012 was a near perfect year for the vines. Spring was humid but without severe weather. July was hot and windy and August was scorching, concentrating the fruit. The fruit was near perfect at harvest. These bottles have arrived at Taurus direct from perfect aging conditions in the Family Perrin cellars. The combination of a great wine made from a very good growing season and aged perfectly has us all desperate to try this wine. Aging will certainly have worked its magic.
Gorgeous Gigondas: ripe fruit on the nose, with a touch of pepper and a hint of the garrigue-style dried herbs. Beautifully integrated tannins fill the palate and frame the full-bodied, ripe core of fruits. There is a great minerality to this wine, a very refined Gigondas. Finally, more pepper and garrigue bring savoury, leathery complexity to this smooth and decadently balanced wine.
Excellent with slow braised beef dishes or roast lamb on a Sunday afternoon.
Drinking now - 2030
94-97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, 2014, Wine Advocate, 'Another prodigious Gigondas who's only problem is that there's not enough of it, the 2012 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles...comes from a vineyard just outside the village. Slightly darker in character than the Vielles Vignes, it boasts awesome aromatics of cassis, toasted spice, licorice, ground herbs and massive minerality. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated Gigondas that has beautiful tannin structure, notable freshness and building richness that comes through on the finish. Rich and textured, as well as elegant, it's a rock-star 2012 that will have two decades of longevity.'
93 Points, Josh Reynolds, 2015, Vinous, 'Bright purple. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes spicy black raspberry and cherry scents, along with hints of garrigue and spice cake. Stains the palate with sweet red fruit and floral flavours, picking up a stony element with air. Shows hints of darker fruits on the strikingly persistent finish, which is framed by smooth, slow-building tannins.'