Saint Damien Gigondas La Louisiane 2016 (750ML)

96 JD / 95 WE / 94 WA / 93-95 VM

Deeply colored, the 2016 Gigondas La Louisiane comes from single vineyard on the lower plain, not far from the estate, and is 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and the balance Syrah and Cinsault. It offers a classic bouquet of dark berry fruits, peppery herbs, garrigue, and obvious minerality. Reminding me of the 2010 with its pure, straight style, it’s full-bodied and elegant on the palate, and is going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age. Jeb Dunnuck

Located on the terraced hillsides of Gigondas, the vineyard site La Louisiane boasts Grenache vines that are nearly 80 years old. This is a powerful, intoxicating wine meshing rich black cherry and berry flavors against a sheen of crushed-stone minerality. It's voluminous but not dense, finishing on chalky, gripping tannins. Beautiful already but should improve through 2028, hold a few years further. - Wine Enthusiast 

The 2016 Gigondas La Louisiane is looking a bit more structured and tannic than it did last year. It's full-bodied, rich and creamy across the mid-palate, then firms up adding hints of licorice and chocolate along the way. It does have the ripe stone fruit and berry notes to sustain it over time, so give it a couple of years (maybe even four or five) to relax and unwind that tightness on the finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. JC – The Wine Advocate

Deep ruby. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet evokes fresh red and dark berries, incense and potpourri, along with smoky mineral and garrigue notes that emerge with air. Juicy, impressively concentrated black raspberry, cherry preserve and lavender pastille flavors show superb depth and stretch out and turn livelier on the back half. Shows superb clarity and spicy cut on a very long, smooth finish framed by velvety, even tannins. JR - Vinous Media