2019 Gigondas les Hauts de Montmirail

Moving to the 2019 Gigondas Les Hauts De Montmirail, which is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre from a higher elevation, terraced vineyard, it has incredible cassis and darker berry fruit characteristics as well as complex notes of sappy garrigue, ground pepper, flowers, and chalky minerality. It’s perfectly balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, remarkable purity, and one heck of a great finish. There are a tiny 1,000 cases produced, but do your best to latch onto a few bottles. It’s going to drink fabulously well for upwards of two decades.

From Brusset's higher-altitude plantings, the 2019 Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail shows what appears to be a bit of oak on the nose, nicely fitting into place among purple raspberries, garrigue and even a bit of cassis. Full-bodied and impressively concentrated, it boasts a plush, velvety feel on the palate, sumptuous tannins and a lingering, richly textured finish. It's a super Gigondas to drink over the next decade or so.

50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre. Aged in 50% new oak. Tasted blind. A sweet and fragrant nose with raspberry pip and a note of coconut oaky character. A rounded generous mouthfeel with seductive and complete tannins. Good freshness and a slight chalky character. Needs time to come together but has good weight and power as well as elegance. (AC)