2004 Gigondas Cuvee Valbelle
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2004 Gigondas Valbelle is a smoking blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah that comes from an old-vine selection of different terroirs. Aged 50% in new barrels and 50% in one-year-old barrels, this medium to full-bodied blend offers plenty of structure and chewy tannin to go with fabulous aromas and flavors of spiced meats, smoke, graphite and sweet blackberry-styled fruit. One of the younger wines in this report, it will continue to drink nicely through 2021.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Ruby-red. Very complex aromas of smoked meat and lavender-accented red fruits. Sweet, concentrated raspberry and strawberry flavors are lifted by an exotic floral pastille quality. A strikingly elegant, silky wine that finishes with fine-grained tannins and excellent persistence.
Mid crimson. Big round and bloody – more of a big fruity wine than a Gigondas specifically. Some oak. Flattering but more because of the lightly smoked oak than the fruit, I fear. Nice lift though. Very nice wine but without a particularly strong Gigondas imprint. (JR)
Inky violet color. Rich and ripe on the nose, with powerful scents of cassis, blackberry, violet and bitter chocolate. Large-scaled and round, with lush dark berry flavors and a compelling sweetness that builds with air. Closes on notes of dark berries and mocha. This possesses wonderful extract, and the fruit is pure and focused.