2021 Domaine Les Pallières Gigondas Terrasse du Diable, Rhone Valley

At once fresh, meaty and earthy, with candied orange freshness. This is concentrated and elegant, with crisp tannins that drive it over the medium- to full-bodied palate. There’s terrific mountain freshness in the vibrant finish. A cuvee based on grenache with some mourvedre, mostly from high-altitude vineyards. Drink or hold.

95 points jamessuckling.com

Cropped at a minuscule 15hL/Ha, the 2021 Gigondas Terrasse du Diable has the edge over the Racines. Vivid rosewater, strawberry, black cherry, black plum and spice box scents rise up from the glass. A splash of menthol adds further complexity. Layered and refined, this medium to full-bodied red offers good concentration, along with ripe tannins and a distinctively juicy finish.

92 points Nicholas Greinacher vinous.com Drink: 2024-2034

Domaine Les Pallières Gigondas Terrasse du Diable from the Rhône Valley is a powerful yet finely etched red with a serious sense of place. Perched high in the Dentelles de Montmirail, the vineyards for Terrasse du Diable sit at around 300 to 400 metres elevation, giving this wine both intensity and lift—ripeness with restraint.

The domaine is a partnership between two of the Rhône’s most respected names: the Brunier family (of Vieux Télégraphe fame) and Kermit Lynch. Together, they’ve turned Les Pallières into a Gigondas benchmark, farming organically and vinifying with a minimalist touch. The blend is mostly Grenache with small amounts of Syrah and other regional varieties, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in large old foudres for depth and balance.

In the glass it shows deep garnet hues with aromas of dark cherry, wild raspberry, dried thyme, garrigue and crushed stone. The palate is layered and structured with fine tannins and savoury grip, balancing dense fruit with earth, spice and minerality. There’s real tension here—elegance wrapped in power.

It’s a brilliant partner for lamb chops with rosemary, gamey stews, grilled eggplant or aged cheeses. One to enjoy now with a decant or stash in the cellar for a decade or more.