The Saint Damien Gigondas Classique 2018 Vieilles Vignes is a base wine from Domaine Saint-Damien, but there’s hardly anything basic about this wine from one of the best regions of Rhone in France.
Domaine Story: Saint Damien
The wine-making history of the Rhone spans over two millennia. The Gigondas appellation is at the heart of the Rhone Valley. Located at the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail and known for its terraced vineyards, Gigondas has a long-established reputation for superior wines with high aging potential.
Saint Damien’s historical roots run deep, and four generations of winegrowers have worked in family vineyards since 1821.
Thanks to the efforts of Clovis Saurel, the vineyard and production were greatly expanded, and the Domaine was renamed “Saint Damien” in 1979 to commemorate an old chapel that once stood near the wine cellars.
Joel Saurel, the youngest of 7 children in a great family, picked up where Clovis left off. He spearheaded a shift to bio-dynamic and organic viticulture by combining tradition and new farming techniques.
Since 1990 Saint Damien has avoided chemical pesticides, and in 1996 converted the entire vineyard to Bio-Dynamic methods. The holistic biodynamic approach helps to maintain and bring forth the natural qualities of the soils. Since the 2006 harvest, the estate has been certified Organic by Ecocert.
Saint Damien Gigondas Classique 2018
In the Bottle
The 2018 Gigondas Classique Vieilles Vignes is a blend 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre from the La Louisiane and Pigière lieux-dits near the estate. The vines were, on average, are 40 years old, with Grenache planted in 1964 Mourvèdre in 1977.
The fermentation took place in concrete vats for about 5 weeks. The new wine was aged in oak barrels for 12 months and bottled without any fining or filtration.
We got thirsty just by reading about the estate and its wine. So what did we taste?
2018 Gigondas Classique In The Glass
2018 Gigondas Classique Vieilles Vignes is a floral combination of black plum, rosehips, and Kirsch liqueur, with savory notes of smoked meats, liver, and leather aroma.
It’s equally rich on the palate with flavors of dark chocolate dipped prunes, plum jam and cocoa nibs, and a touch of purple lilac.
Aftertaste
2018 Gigondas Saint Damien is a powerful, full-bodied wine with a chewy juicy character and a long, impressive aftertaste of plum jam. The combination of dark fruit and savory notes tempts you to take another drink. While it’s ready to be enjoyed now, it can benefit from five years in a cellar.
What are your thoughts on this wine or other Gigondas you’ve tried?