GIGONDAS
2020 Les Hautes Garrigues Domaine Santa Duc
| Grapes | Mourvèdre, Grenache |
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Rhône |
| District | Southern Rhône |
| Village | Gigondas |
| ABV | 14.5% |
2020 Les Hautes Garrigues 50% Grenache 50% Mourvedre A powerhouse on the nose, big notes of violets and cassis, with black olive too, in the palate it has a big whack of sweet fruit, meaty charcuterie too, good acidity, the tannins are really well integrated, this is such a delicious Hautes Garrigues, again you have this lovely fresh suppleness, it is concentrated and full bodied, these wines are serious and any Rhone lover can open one in 10 years time safe in the knowledge that it will go the distance. Benjamin Gras says of this Hautes Garrigues 'I think in all my time of making Hautes Garrigues this is the best yet, this is the wine I am happiest with’ L&S (Jul 2022)
| 12 | ||
*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.
Black fruit coulis, intense spice aromas and some smoke on the nose. Powerful and robust in the best possible way, the tannins are remarkably polished for a Rhone red with stacks of mourvedre in it. Very compact core, but also excellent energy on the full-bodied palate. Bold and very structured, but there's a wonderfully delicate sweetness, too. A cuvee of 50% mourvedre and 50% grenache from old vines on the high plain of Gigondas. 75% whole bunch. Matured in a combination of Stockinger oak foudre and clay amphora. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. Rating: 95 Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com (Apr 2023)
The flagship 2020 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is equal parts Grenache and Mourvèdre, and it’s a pure, classic Gigondas in the making that delivers loads of red and black fruits as well as peppery garrigue, sappy flowers, and spice. I’d love to see more generosity on the palate, but it’s concentrated, focused, and tight, with medium to full-bodied richness and good acidity. It should be long-lived and shows the pretty, fresh, yet concentrated style of the vintage. Rating: 93-95 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.
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