GIGONDAS
2020 Clos Derrière Vieille Domaine Santa Duc
| Grapes | Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache |
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Rhône |
| Other | Certified Organic, Bio-dynamic |
| District | Southern Rhône |
| Village | Gigondas |
| ABV | 14% |
2020 Clos Derrière Vieille 80% Grenache 10% Mourvedre 10% Syrah Lovely floral Grenache, vibrant raspberry and perfumed violets, nice weight of super sweet fruit, cherry, spice, raspberry and redcurrant - soft soft tannins, lovely texture and supple - very smart L&S (Jul 2022)
DELIVERY SERVICE
We offer free nationwide delivery on all orders over £150 (excluding Highlands & Islands). Express Delivery options also available.Great complexity on the nose with notes of thyme, rosemary, preserved lemon and red berries. Extremely elegant with lots of mountain freshness alongside the southerly ripeness. Very structured and clean at the long focused finish. A cuvee of 80% grenache, 10% mourvedre and 10% syrah growing on limestone marl at an altitude of 300-350 meters above sea level. 75% whole bunch. Matured in a combination of Stockinger oak foudre and clay amphora. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. Rating: 95 Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com (Apr 2023)
Shimmering ruby-red. Powerful red and dark berry preserve aromas are complemented by exotic spice, incense and floral nuances. This wine is sappy and densely packed. Black raspberry, cherry-cola and spicecake flavors are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Chewy tannins build steadily on an impressively long finish that leaves behind suave lavender pastille and smoky mineral notes. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 95-96 Josh Raynolds, www.vinousmedia.com (Jan 2023)
The 2020 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille offers more savory red fruits (hints of blue fruits as well), loamy earth, and violets in an exotic, medium to full-bodied package. It has lots of ripe, polished tannins and will need time, but it certainly has potential. This lieu-dit, which was purchased by the Gras Family in 1994, is a terraced, limestone terroir located just above the village of Gigondas. Rating: 91-94 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Jan 2022)
Domaine Santa Duc
The name of Domaine Santa Duc has been at the pinnacle of wine in Gigondas since the mid 80’s when, under the firm guidance of the irrepressible and charismatic Yves Gras, they gained international recognition and high scores from wine critics. They have, for some time, been a reference point for quality and style, from one of the most consistently brilliant Crus in the Southern Rhone.
The future of the domaine is now in the very capable hands of Yves' son Benjamin, who becomes the 6th generation of the family to head up the estate. To borrow from Matt Walls ‘Yves Gras and his son Benjamin are very different characters. Yves has the air of a retired East End enforcer, but Benjamin is bookish and jovial’. It would appear from our recent tastings that the estate is in safe hands. Having a respectable CV that boasts stages at Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Vega Sicilia, and visits to nearly every wine producing country in the world, he brings fresh views and ideas, whilst respecting the traditions of his father's work and the past.
The entire 30-hectare estate is now biodynamically farmed and certified, with an emphasis on total respect for nature in the vineyard. They comprise a patchwork of prime vineyard sites in Gigondas totalling 13 hectares, including two brilliant lieux-dits, Les Hautes Garrigues & Clos Derriere Vieille, that bring out the very best expression of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre. There is also 6 hectares of prized parcels in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, that have gained high praise in a short space of time. The balance is spread across Vacqueyras and Cotes du Rhone. Nearly all the vines are trained goblet, with a program of Massal selection ongoing to ensure healthy vines from older rootstocks.
The wine making philosophy, like so many now, is as little intervention as possible. Stainless steel fermentation, with a proportion of stems and a short maceration followed by ageing in a mixture of large foudres and terracotta amphorae. The wines are fresh, elegant, pure, dark fruited and long lived although approachable in their youth too. Be in no doubt, these are some of the best wines being made in the southern Rhone.
NSPCC Fine Wine Challenge | 2026
The 30th Anniversary NSPCC Fine Wine Challenge Collection.
Last month, we gathered in London for the 30th Anniversary of the NSPCC Fine Wine Challenge. It was a spectacular evening where the Lea & Sandeman team poured over 2,500 glasses of wine to blind-taste for a room full of eager, competitive palates.
It was a brilliant success, raising over £250,000 for Childline.
To celebrate this milestone, we have assembled a 6-bottle case containing half a dozen of the exceptional wines poured during the quiz, allowing you to recreate the challenge from the comfort of your own dining table.
A portion of the proceeds from every case sold will be donated directly to the NSPCC. These are not simple, entry-level wines designed to be easily guessed. We selected complex, profound expressions from some of our most revered estates to truly test the room.
What is Inside the Anniversary Collection:
2023 SANCERRE Silex Chavignol, Domaine Delaporte: An unusually sumptuous, flint-rich Sancerre with flavours of lemon, honey tea, and chamomile.
2023 ALBERELLI DI GIODO Carricante: The legendary Carlo Ferrini's Sicilian masterpiece. Grown at high altitude on Mount Etna, it crackles with white peach and delicate, salty mineral shadings.
2022 SAINT VÉRAN Les Pommards, Domaine Barraud: A beautifully powerful white Burgundy from 60-year-old vines, displaying excellent volume and a classic, mineral core.
2020 POMMARD Tavannes, Domaine Fernand & Laurent Pillot: A rich, plush, and fleshy Pinot Noir from an entirely massal-selected old-vine plot. Exceptionally concentrated and powerful.
2020 GIGONDAS Clos Derrière Vieille, Domaine Santa Duc: A stunningly elegant, biodynamic southern Rhône blend, aged in oak foudres and clay amphorae. Expect thyme, rosemary, and vivid mountain freshness.
2023 FLEURIE Cuvée Tardive, Clos de La Roilette: Velvety richness, fine ripe tannins, and a core of sweet kirsch liqueur. All you could ever need from Gamay, from an estate that charmingly still uses its 1920s racehorse label.
This case is a masterclass of fine wine. At £230, a slight discount from our usual case price, the shipping is entirely on us.
- For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
- We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
- Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
- Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.
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2019 CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE Les Sables de la Crau Domaine Jean Royer
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James Molesworth, The Wine SpectatorORDER COLLECT
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