2010 Gigondas

The 2010 Gigondas (60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah) is a beautifully rich effort revealing a dense purple color as well as lots of blueberry, black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with hints of lead pencil shavings, truffles and spring flowers. Full-bodied, opulent and sumptuous, this 2010 should drink well for a decade or more. Louis Barruol has been at the top of his game since the late 1990s, and over the last few vintages, he has been making some of the finest wines in the southern Rhone as well as France. The glories here are Barruol’s single vineyard/special cuvees of Gigondas, but consumers should not overlook the terrific value offered by his Cotes du Rhones. The wines are sold under two monikers, Chateau Saint-Cosme and simply Saint-Cosme (his negociant line-up). Barroul produces a small quantity of Chateauneuf du Pape that is usually about 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault and 10% Syrah. Importer: Country Vintners, Ashland, VA; tel. (804) 752-3670

Even better than the brilliant ’07, the 2010 Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas is a classical blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, and 2% Cinsault that is aged in a combination of old oak barrels and concrete tank. Elegant and yet powerful, with knockout aromas of licorice-laced black fruits, big minerality, garrigue, and pepper, this medium to full-bodied Gigondas has an old vine sappiness to its texture, as well as formidable tannin structure, fresh acidity, and fantastic length. Textbook stuff that needs bottle age; give it 3-4 years, and then drink over the following 15+ years.

Deep ruby color. Perfumed aromas of red berries, lavender and minerals, with a spicy topnote. At once tangy and silky, with precise raspberry and rhubarb flavor and a touch of bitter chocolate. The vibrant, fruit-driven finish shows very good clarity and verve, with spice and floral notes lingering.