2012 Gigondas Cuvee Valbelle
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Tasting notes
Inky ruby. Powerful, deeply pitched aromas of ripe dark fruits, pungent flowers and woodsmoke are lifted by a hint of peppery spices. Smooth, broad and sweet on the palate, offering very good depth to the intense black raspberry and floral pastille flavors. Dusty tannins come up slowly on the finish, which lingers with outstanding persistence and repeating floral notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
One of the more limited production releases, the 2012 Gigondas Cuvee Valbelle (which comes from a blend of terroirs) exhibits fabulous cassis, cocoa dusted meat, dried herbs, soy sauce and Asian spice-box-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, deep, concentrated and structured, it’s a powerhouse of a Gigondas that will have 15+ years of evolution.
Opaque ruby. Smoke- and mineral-laced dark berry compote and cherry liqueur on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, broad and concentrated, offering sweet blackberry and bitter chocolate flavors and a bracing kick of juicy acidity. Shows excellent clarity and punch on a finish that's firmed by dusty, harmonious tannins.
Some oak on the nose. Quite rich but also a little rigid for now. Fruit is a tad swamped. Not the most typical of the appellation. (JR)