Saint CosmeGigondas Le Claux 2016

Starting off the single vineyard releases, the 2016 Gigondas Le Claux is legendary Gigondas in the making. Incredibly elegant and finesse-driven, it boasts a deep ruby/purple color to go with incredibly floral notes of camphor, dried earth, black currants, and spice. This Burgundian beauty boasts full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, heavenly mouthfeel, building tannins, and again, an incredible floral quality. I absolutely love it.

This offers a range of sage, savory and bay leaf aromas followed by crushed black cherry, bitter plum and red currant fruit, all supported by racy, mouthwatering chalky cut. Dense, but fresh and well-defined throughout. Long finish.

Suave pepper and graphite with a very composed, youthful array of dark plums. Spicy and alluring. The palate has impressive density and depth with a powerful core of fine, noble tannins. Super deep finish. This is terrific! From organically grown grapes.

Brilliant ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red berries, cherry pie and candied lavender, along with a smoky mineral overtone that builds in the glass. Shows intense, impressively concentrated Chambord, floral pastille and spicecake qualities on the palate, which are enlivened by a jolt of juicy acidity. Closes with repeating florality, building tannins and outstanding, red fruit-dominated persistence.

All Grenache, the 2016 Gigondas le Claux comes from a parcel of vines planted around 1880. It´s got an incredibly floral and tea-like nose, followed by expressive red berries, even fraises des bois. Full-bodied, silky and long, it manages to be an epic wine, not for its power but for its elegance, finesse and complexity. More approachable than the blockbuster Le Poste, the 2016 Gigondas le Claux looks to be another Gigondas legend in the making. Apricot and cherry fruit lead the way, backed by masses of creamy, lush tannins and savory notes of dark chocolate and black olive on the long finish.