Grenache, Syrah
75cl * Organic * 14.5% ABV * Rhone Valley, France
Gorgeous Gigondas; ripe fruit on the nose, with a touch of pepper and a hint of the garrigue-style dried herbs. Refined tannins fill the palate and frame the full-bodied, ripe core of fruits. Then, whoosh, more pepper and garrigue bring savoury, leathery complexity to this smooth and decadently plump wine.
It also comes with an excellent pedigree, which perhaps explains the price for 'just a Gigondas'. The Perrin family are responsible for arguably the best Chateauneuf-du-Pape, coming as it does from their Chateau de Beaucastel estate in that appellation. Bringing their expertise to other villages, this Gigondas is made from an estate, just below the fortified village walls. The last Clos still existing in Gigondas, Domaine du Clos des Tourelles is a historic and emblematic 3-hectare vineyard of very old Grenache on limestone and sandy soils that make for outstanding wines.
2021 is a vintage marked by freshness, which is similar to the vintages we had in the eighties and nineties. It is also what we call a "winegrower vintage", human intervention and the care given to the vines were decisive for the quality of the vintage. Marked by climatic vagaries, with an episode of frost in April and interrupted harvest because of rain, this year has indeed required constant investment from our teams in the vineyard. Their attention and their commitment have borne their fruit: this vintage is very promising with lots of freshness and great balance.
The 2021 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles is probably one of the most beautiful vintages produced. The very old Grenache provided by the saffre soil of Le Clos shows a very nice nose showing great finesse. Lovely depth and concentration, fantastic ripeness and very elegant tannins. The flavours hold so very long, deeply concentrated and focused. The fruit livens up at the finish and opens very impressively.
Excellent with slow braised beef dishes or roast lamb on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Drinking 2025-2032
"Although customers flock to Beaucastel's Chateauneuf the real cognoscenti (including the team here when buying for their own cellars) buy Perrin's far rarer and arguably better value single vineyard Gigondas." Team Taurus notes
"Has the garrigue and gently floral aroma of the L'Argnée Gigondas 2020. A little bit toasty too. Deliciously scented. Firm and serious on the palate. Finely dry tannins. A restrained style compared with the Famille Perrin La Gille Gigondas 2020. Drink 2023-2030." 17 points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com (Nov 2021)
"Very dark in the glass. Wonderful cassis aromas. It’s a rounded and generous style on the palate, with really expressive fruit. Good acidity and length, and the tannins are well tamed. Half the Grenache is whole-bunch fermented, as well as all the Syrah. Well balanced, this is very successful for a 2021 Gigondas." 94 points, Matt Walls, Decanter Magazine (Oct 2022)