Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2018 (750ML)

92-94 WA / 92-94 JD / 92 VM / 92 DE

The 2018 Gigondas Classique Vieilles Vignes shows impressive levels of black cherry fruit, joined by hints of garrigue and licorice. It's full-bodied, silky and easy to drink, finishing long, briny and savory.

This certified organic estate lost about half its 2018 crop to mildew, according to Romain Saurel, who has gradually taken over the management of the domaine from his parents. As a result, there will be no 2018 les Souteyrades. Thankfully, what there is looks customarily good. Saurel made note of the showers that fell September 4-5, which after a dry summer was, he says, "fantastic for the maturity." The harvest here finished up just before rain fell again on October 10-11. - JC, Wine Advocate 

The base Gigondas, the 2018 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is a blend from both the La Louisiane and Pigière lieux-dits near the estate (due to the dismal yields, there’s no Souteyrade cuvée in 2018) and is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah brought up in foudre. It has a wonderful flowery incense and blue fruit quality as well as medium to full body, a ripe, rounded mid-palate, and a great texture. It’s a more forward, charming, sexy wine that’s going to drink nicely in its youth yet also evolve gracefully. - Jeb Dunnuck

Dark ruby-red. Displays spice-accented cherry and boysenberry notes on the nose, with lavender and cola nuances. Shows very good breadth and depth to its juicy red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors, with good clarity and spicy lift on the back half. It finishes very long and smooth, with a repeating cherry note and fine-grained tannins coming in late. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

Smashed blueberries and raspberries, really vivid. Full-bodied, very rounded and flamboyant with a dense tannic mesh. This is juicy, not terribly long but certainly makes an impression. Organic. Long maceration (7 weeks), then matured in foudre for 12 months. - Matt Walls, Decanter