I recently tasted through five different bottles of 2016 Gigondas and found very good quality throughout. The 2016 vintage provides wines for both early drinking and cellar potential. In both cases, there is plenty of supple fruit for enjoyment so you are not bogged down by any structure. The 2016 Domaine Mourchon, Gigondas and 2016 Domaine du Cayron, Gigondas are enjoyable right now. The Mourchon offers plenty of tasty fruit and becomes a little salty. The Cayron exhibits a strong personality due to its Kirsch aromas and flavors. Of the longer-lived wines, the 2016 Domaine La Bouissiere, Gigondas is savory, complex, and balanced with a more elegant, less fruit-forward nature compared to the next two. It is excellent and should improve further. There is an attractive strawberry flavor in the 2016 Domaine Raspail-Ay, Gigondas which sports ample baking spices and an inky finish. The 2016 Domaine la Soumade, Gigondas is dark flavored with more herbs and minerals. It will reach the greatest age at the slowest pace. The Boussiere, Raspail-Ay, and Soumade are my favorite of these five. They will be fascinating to taste several years from now.
2016 Domaine La Bouissiere, Gigondas – $30 at MacArthur Beverages
Imported by Dionysos Imports. This wine is a blend of 66% Grenache and 34% Syrah raised in vat and foudre. Alcohol 14.5%. Kirsch on the nose. With air, it develops clean bright red flavors which are savory and dense. There is an attractive tension from the acidity which is balanced by the fruit and structure. It is lively on the tongue. With extended air it shows savory complexity with notes of pine and dried herbs. Excellent. **** Now – 2030.
2016 Domaine du Cayron, Gigondas – $36 at MacArthur Beverages
Imported by Roanoke Valley Wine. This wine is a blend of 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 6% Cinsault, and 2% Mourvedre raised in foudre. Alcohol 14%. Very aromatic with Kirsch and berries. In the mouth are pure, weight flavors of Kirsch with a fine, powerful structure in the finish. It clearly reflects the intensity of the vintage. With air, the core of fruit becomes more expansive yet is still lively on the tongue. For the medium-term. **** Now – 2027.
2016 Domaine Mourchon, Gigondas – $25 at MacArthur Beverages
Imported by MacArthur Liquors. A special selection just for MacArthur Beverages. Alcohol 14.5%. Easy to drink red fruit first greets then a vein of black fruit and acidity come out. This is a forward wine for early drinking. It take some a salty nature with air. ***(*) Now – 2025.
2016 Domaine Raspail-Ay, Gigondas – $36 at MacArthur Beverages
Imported by Michael Corso Selections. This wine is an approximate blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. Alcohol 15%. Dark and lush in the mouth with Kirsch poking through. The acidity grows subtly in prominence as the flavors take on baking spice and bluer fruit by the finish. There is a fine structure that is always supportive and not obtrusive. The ability to age is revealed with air. The wine becomes redder with strawberry flavors, lovely ripe baking spices, and an inky finish. It is always in balance. **** Now – 2030.
2016 Domaine la Soumade, Gigondas – $36 at MacArthur Beverages
Imported by MacArthur Liquors. This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Alcohol 15%. Focused flavors with a black fruited start. Minerals and herbs first develop then a perfumed, creamy finish and eventually a salty note. This is a dense wine with rounded edges which will slowly unfurl with age. With air the wine shows a cool, dense nature, dark fruit, fine texture, and a black, mineral and herb influenced finish. It is a young wine that will age slower than all of the others. **** Now – 2034.
