2010 Gigondas, Confidentiel, Domaine Montirius, Rhône

2010 Gigondas, Confidentiel, Domaine Montirius, Rhône

Product: 20108015213
 
2010 Gigondas, Confidentiel, Domaine Montirius, Rhône

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Available by the case In Bond. Pricing excludes duty and VAT, which must be paid separately before delivery. Storage charges apply.
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Description

From a small but unique plot, shared by 40 year-old Mourvèdre and 80 year-old Grenache, the Confidential 2010 is an outstanding effort, its weight of dense black fruit beautifully complemented by what Christine describes as ‘salinity’, a reference to the pure minerality which underpins the wine’s structure. Wonderfully balanced and almost feminine, despite its power, a word seldom used in this particular appellation!
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012

Christine and Eric Saurel own 60 hectares mostly on the Plateau des Garrigues which overlooks the villages of Vacqueyras and Sarrains, all of which they have farmed on biodynamic principles for an incredible 16 years. Blue and monmorate ‘petrus’ clay soils contribute to the astonishing flavours coaxed from these old vines. Christine describes her goals in terms of ‘luminosité’, an intangible and almost ethereal term yet one which seems strangely appropriate and which can only be properly explained by tasting the wines themselves, which are a far cry from traditional styles from these villages.

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Critics reviews

Wine Advocate90+/100
Slightly more serious, even though it is made from an identical blend from the same vineyard, but from a different parcel, are the 400 or so cases of 2010 Gigondas Confidentiel. The Saurels claim that the blue marl and clay soils give this particular parcel a different character. This cuvee is slightly austere, tannic and structured as well as full-bodied. Additionally, it is ripe and seriously stuffed with lots of black fruits, licorice, garrigue and spice box. The wine is also aged in concrete vats prior to being bottled with no fining and just a light, coarse filtration. It will benefit from several years of bottle age and last for 10-15 years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 31/10/2012 Read more
Jancis Robinson MW16/20
Rather grey crimson. Notably floral and aromatic. Cool and tight textured with a very dry finish. Youthful and introvert.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com, 21 Dec 2011 Read more
Robert Parker90+/100
Slightly more serious, even though it is made from an identical blend from the same vineyard, but from a different parcel, are the 400 or so cases of 2010 Gigondas Confidentiel. The Saurels claim that the blue marl and clay soils give this particular parcel a different character. This cuvee is slightly austere, tannic and structured as well as full-bodied. Additionally, it is ripe and seriously stuffed with lots of black fruits, licorice, garrigue and spice box. The wine is also aged in concrete vats prior to being bottled with no fining and just a light, coarse filtration. It will benefit from several years of bottle age and last for 10-15 years.

Christine and Eric Saurel have fashioned two excellent Gigondas from their 40 acres of vines (all situated at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail) that were planted in 1925, and are now farmed biodynamically.
90+/100 Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Oct 2012

Even denser is the 2010 Gigondas Confidentiel, which boasts an inky/purple color as well as lots of blackberry, blueberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with notions of licorice, forest floor and underbrush. This impressive, full-bodied 2010 should drink well for 10-12 years.
91-94/100 Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Oct 2011 Read more

About this WINE

Domaine Montirius

Domaine Montirius

Domaine Montirius is one of the stars of the appellation, and deservedly so, judged by the care afforded to its wines by Christine and Eric Saurel. They represent the fifth generation to work this 57 hectare domaine in the heart of Vacqueyras and their property, now farmed entirely by biodynamic principles.

Labour-intensive and rigorous, low yielding old vines on optimal soil provide the perfect raw materials, and a careful three week maceration allows the full expression of the terroir. Their patient methodology is rewarded with superb expressions of terroir, described by Christine as `vins lumineux'. Here you can find their village Vacqueyras, as well as the stunningly opulent Clos Montirius.

The Saurels are a charming and gentle couple; their wine, however, is powerful and regal. One of the rare examples where the wine’s personality does not reflect that of those who make it!

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Gigondas

Gigondas

Gigondas has been renowned for the quality of its wines since Roman times, although it was not really until it was classified as a Côtes du Rhône Villages in 1966 that it began to realise its potential.  It achieved AC status in 1971 and today produces some of the finest, most underrated and under-priced wines in the Rhône valley; although, for the last two of these at least, probably not for much longer.

Gigondas' 1,200-hectare of rugged vineyards are located east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, beneath the famous mountains of Dentelles de Montmirail. Gigondas produces sumptuous, plummy reds with a good structure and a sprinkle of pepper. It is similar to (if a touch less slick than) good Châteauneuf-du-Pape which, at its best, it can challenge and even surpass.

Made with a maximum of 80 percent Grenache, combined with at least 15 percent Syrah and/or Mourvèdre, the rest can be made of any of the varieties authorized for Côtes du Rhône – apart from Carignan. The wines can normally be broached after two to three years, while the best repay ageing for 10 years or more. The region also produces dry, Grenache-dominated rosés which are good but can sometimes lack a little vitality.

Recommended Producer: La Bastide St VincentDomaine Montirius

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Southern Rhône Blend

Southern Rhône Blend

The vast majority of wines from the Southern Rhône are blends. There are 5 main black varieties, although others are used and the most famous wine of the region, Châteauneuf du Pape, can be made from as many as 13 different varieties. Grenache is the most important grape in the southern Rhône - it contributes alcohol, warmth and gentle juicy fruit and is an ideal base wine in the blend. Plantings of Syrah in the southern Rhône have risen dramatically in the last decade and it is an increasingly important component in blends. It rarely attains the heights that it does in the North but adds colour, backbone, tannins and soft ripe fruit to the blend.

The much-maligned Carignan has been on the retreat recently but is still included in many blends - the best old vines can add colour, body and spicy fruits. Cinsault is also backtracking but, if yields are restricted, can produce moderately well-coloured wines adding pleasant-light fruit to red and rosé blends. Finally, Mourvèdre, a grape from Bandol on the Mediterranean coast, has recently become an increasingly significant component of Southern Rhône blends - it often struggles to ripen fully but can add acidity, ripe spicy berry fruits and hints of tobacco to blends.

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