Description

"Home to the first Gigondas vines in 1376, Domaine des Bosquets is today run by brothers Laurent and Julien Bréchet with the same commitment to quality as at Château de Vaudieu. The 26 hectares of vines are up to 75 years old and lie at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Julien has identified three distinct soil types at different altitudes within his vineyards: marl at 250-300 metres above sea level; sandy clay at 200-220 metres; and blue clay at 170 metres. These offer the potential for varying ripeness levels and fruit characters in the wine. All the vines are cordon-trained for the optimum exposure and ventilation of the grapes, and the fruit is hand-harvested and goes through rigorous selection. The Gigondas is a blend of different parcels and is dominated by 75% Grenache, with 20% Syrah, 3 % Mourvèdre and 2% Cinsault. It has a lift and balance, as well as a powerful fruit character. The wine is aged for 18 months in total. For 12 months it ages separately: the Syrah is aged in 228-litre oak barrels, the Grenache is aged in 600-litre barrels and the rest is aged in concrete tanks. All three are then blended and bottled six months later. The 2011 Gigondas 'Le Lieu Dit' is from a 1.3-hectare parcel at 300 metres altitude giving the wine freshness as well as ripeness. It is made of 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah and is matured for 18 months, 12 months of which was spent in French oak barrels. A complex nose of sweet blackberries, red plums, roasted provençal herbs and macerated cherries. On the palate, this is a medium to full-bodied wine, with good structure, beautiful tannins and a clean finish.