2011 Gigondas Terrasse du Diable

Bright ruby-red. Sexy, floral-accented aromas of raspberry, cherry and smoky minerals. Supple and broad on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering intense cherry and red fruit liqueur flavors. Displays very good vivacity and clarity on the long, red fruit- and floral dominated finish, which betrays only a whisper of tannins.

The 2011 Gigondas Terrasse du Diable (85% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre and a touch of Clairette) comes from the high altitude parcels of the complicated and morsellated estate of Les Pallieres. It reveals sweet raspberry and strawberry fruit intermixed with a liqueur of crushed rocks, spring flowers, bay leaf and lavender. This complex, concentrated, medium to full-bodied Gigondas should drink well for 10-15 years. (Not yet released) Les Pallieres, one of the iconic estates of Gigondas, is now owned (and has been reinvigorated) by the partnership of Vieux Telegraphe’s Daniel Brunier and the well-known American boutique wine importer, Kermit Lynch. Brunier and Lynch have done a fabulous job turning this estate around, and they continue to fine tune what is a complicated, cool climate, high altitude property where the harvest is usually two to three weeks after that of Vieux Telegraphe in Chateauneuf du Pape. As for the red wines, both of the cuvees produced are approximately 80% Grenache, with the Terrasse du Diable coming from vineyards planted at 300-900 meters and Les Racines from lower slopes where there is more clay and less decomposed limestone. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

From the estate’s younger vines, located on the upper terraces in Gigondas, the 2011 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Terrasse du Diable is a decidedly fruit forward Gigondas that delivers copious licorice, fennel, and wild herbs to go with notions of black cherry, garrigue, and spice. Medium-bodied, supple, and textured, with excellent freshness and purity of fruit, this possibly outstanding Gigondas should drink well on release, and evolve gracefully for 5-8 years.