2022 Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes Organic Magnum 1.5L, Rhone Valley

Possibly my favorite of the trio, the 2022 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes (80% Grenache and 20% Syrah) offers a full-bodied, incredibly textured, yet seamless and elegant profile to go with lots of meaty dark fruits, some classic Southern Rhône licorice, roasted herb, and spice box nuances, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's another sensational effort from this estate, which continues to go from strength to strength.

A domaine located on the lower plains of Gigondas, Domaine Saint-Damien releases four Gigondas, their Vieilles Vignes, which is a blend of the single vintage, two single vineyards, the Les Souteyrade and La Louisiane, and lastly and most recently, the Clovis Saurel. All the wines are largely Grenache and destemmed, and aside from the Clovis Saurel, which is aged in demi-muids, are brought up in foudre and tank. These are brilliant, layered, textured Gigondas that represent insane values.

94-96 points jebdunnuck.com

Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes Organic from the Rhône Valley is a powerful and complex red wine, crafted from old vines that bring depth and concentration to every sip. Domaine Saint Damien, a family-owned estate committed to organic viticulture, is renowned for its meticulous work with Rhône varietals, especially Grenache and Mourvèdre. The Vieilles Vignes (old vines) label indicates vines of considerable age, typically over 50 years, planted in the limestone and clay-rich soils of Gigondas. These older vines produce lower yields, resulting in wines with concentrated flavors and a strong sense of place.

This Gigondas offers an enticing nose of dark cherries, blackberries, and plum, enhanced by aromas of garrigue herbs, licorice, and a subtle smokiness. There are earthy notes of truffle and black pepper as well, adding layers of complexity. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, with flavors of ripe black fruit, dark chocolate, and spice. The tannins are firm but velvety, balanced by vibrant acidity that gives the wine elegance and freshness. The finish is long and savory, lingering with notes of dried herbs and mineral undertones.

Ideal for pairing with roasted meats, game, grilled vegetables, and aged cheeses, this Gigondas is versatile and food-friendly. Its structure and complexity also make it an excellent candidate for cellaring, with the potential to develop even greater depth over time.

Vinification is classic with wines being fermented in large old cement tanks and aged in either cement tanks or large old foudres for the Gigondas.Today the estate is comprised of 17 hectares of vineyards of which 12 are in Gigondas. All their vineyards are certified organic since 2012. The vines are an average age of 50 years and are very low yielding. The wines of Gigondas are bottled according to individual terroir (particularly soil type) known as the Saint Damien Trilogy.

80% Grenache (1964), 20% Mourvèdre (1977) fermented on skins for 5 weeks. Matured in large old 50 hl foudres for 12 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.