Gigondas Hautes Garrigues, Santa Duc

Black fruit coulis, intense spice aromas and some smoke on the nose. Powerful and robust in the best possible way, the tannins are remarkably polished for a Rhone red with stacks of mourvedre in it. Very compact core, but also excellent energy on the full-bodied palate. Bold and very structured, but there's a wonderfully delicate sweetness, too. A cuvee of 50% mourvedre and 50% grenache from old vines on the high plain of Gigondas. 75% whole bunch.

Shimmering ruby-red. A deeply perfumed, complex bouquet evokes red/blue fruit preserves, potpourri, incense and smoky minerals. Alluringly sweet and energetic in style, offering concentrated cherry-cola, Chambord, boysenberry, lavender, botanical herb and exotic spice flavors that spread out slowly on the back half. Deftly melds power and finesse and finishes extremely long. Focused and subtly tannic, with resonating florality and emphatic, spicy cut. - Josh Raynolds

Deep ruby. Displays intensely perfumed red and blue fruit preserves, licorice, exotic spice, potpourri, smoky minerals and cured meat scents. Stains the palate with sweet boysenberry, cherry-cola, fruitcake and black cardamom flavors that smoothly meld depth and vivacity. Round, even tannins lend shape to the impressively long finish, which strongly repeats the floral and mineral notes. - Josh Raynolds

Very bright high-toned, pure and sweet fragrant fruit. Very focused palate which is supported by extremely refined elegant and layered tannins and a dark-fruit spiced note. Excellent extraction which shows off the elegant fruit character. Bags of freshness keep this alive and kicking. - Alistair Cooper MW

bright, quite full red robe; the bouquet carries discreet density, stewed fruits, plums, at its centre, with a sweet herbal tone, rosemary from the garrigue. The palate expresses free raspberry fruit on the attack, flows easily and openly, the tannins refined and fitting in well, into a finish with a note of blood-iron, tang, juniper. It’s a stylish, rather naked, STGT Gigondas, good poise and freshness, and interest from its nuances along the line. The pings of menthol on the finish are truly local and well presented. - John Livingstone-Learmonth

This is a profound wine – a very lithe, full, flowing style, quite nakedly fruity. The acidity is a little on the low side and it’s currently pretty backward but harbouring some subtle floral and spice notes among the brooding black fruits. The Mourvèdre has a strong stamp on the wine this year. It’s very long and deep with a sonorous finish. From very old vines, biodynamically-grown on red clay and limestone, partly destemmed which then spends 18 months in recent 3,600l Stockinger barrels and 8,00l amphorae.

A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre this vintage, the 2018 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is more open and approachable than the somewhat dense and closed 2017. Floral hints of garrigue appear on the nose, and the fruit is less concentrated and suppler, making it easier to drink now. Mixed berries mark the full-bodied palate, framed by silky tannins and bright acids, leading into a long, mouthwatering finish. - Joe Czerwinski

A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, the 2017 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is less aromatic than it was last year, folding in darker notes of black cherries and chocolate. Yet it's still wonderfully full and textured, with a plush, velvety feel and a long finish. It seems to grow in aroma and flavor the longer it's in the glass, always a good sign. - Joe Czerwinski

Brilliant magenta. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe red/blue fruits, exotic spices and incense, along with a smoky mineral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Smooth and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining raspberry and cherry pie, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors that convey a suave blend of power and finesse. Finishes sweet, gently tannic and extremely long, leaving behind exotic star anise and floral notes. - Josh Raynolds

Bright violet. Spice- and floral-accented aromas of black raspberry, boysenberry and candied licorice, along with a smoky mineral element that builds in the glass. Alluringly sweet and pliant in the mouth, offering intense red and blue fruit and lavender pastille flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Closes extremely long, with emphatic, spicy cut, harmonious tannins and lingering florality. - Josh Raynolds

Firmly tannic on the palate, compact fruit without much expressiveness on the nose or the palate. Fine-grained and superbly balanced between tannin and acid, but there's not much flavour complexity at this stage. - Richard Hemming MW

Flowering garrigue, black cherries and licorice all pop on the nose of the 2016 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues. Full-bodied, rich, velvety and intense without being overbearing, it's a tremendous effort, with the poise, grace and charm of Disney's Fantasia ballet-dancing hippo. And the finish is long—really long. - Joe Czerwinski

65% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre. 100% destemmed and vinified in stainless steel. Matured for 10 months in foudre. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Deep crimson. So dense it is not yielding much on the nose. Very sweet and opulent in texture with some gaminess on the finish. Dramatic red wine! There is arguably more winemaking than vineyard in here but it’s an attractive package. Tannins quite insistent for the moment. - Jancis Robinson

I loved the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues and this flagship cuvee is made from 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvèdre that’s brought up in foudre. It’s a full-bodied, concentrated, yet brilliantly proportioned Gigondas that has classy notes of blackberries, plums, garrigue and leather. It’s going to need 3-5 years of cellaring. - Jeb Dunnuck

Full ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, incense, spicecake and candied flowers show outstanding energy and clarity. Sweet, seamless and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and lavender pastille flavors that fan out steadily with air. Rich but nervy and precise as well, carrying no excess fat. Velvety tannins frame an extremely long, incisive finish that leaves behind notes of sweet dark berries and candied flowers. - Josh Raynolds