2017 Gigondas

Brilliant ruby-red. Vibrant, sharply focused red fruit, floral, garrigue and exotic spice qualities on the highly expressive nose. Intense raspberry, bitter cherry, succulent herbs and candied lavender flavors show superb delineation and no excess weight. Finishes with impressive persistence, sneaky tannins and resonating floral and spice notes. This graceful wine should age effortlessly on its balance.

Not yet bottled, the 2017 Gigondas looks to be terrific and might end up matching the 2010 and 2016. Based on 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault and Mourvèdre, brought up all in old foudre, this classic Cayron boasts a deep purple color as well as crazy exotic notes of black currants, green herbs, sappy garrigue, basil leaves, and violets. This wine can push some boundaries and can fall in the “love it or hate it” category, but I always find it to be a singular, complex wine. Medium to full-bodied, with a silky texture and fine tannins, it will keep for 10-15 years.

Sweaty, herbal, underripe fruit – a really odd style, that doesn't really do justice to the appellation. Lots of acetic character here obscuring the origin. (RH)