"Jeb Dunnock 95-97/100
This is almost 100% Grenache from pre-phylloxera vines, is a blockbuster in the making. Thrilling notes of blueberries, violets, spice box and crushed flowers all give way to a fullbodied effort that has ultra fine-tannins, incredible elegance, and a great finish. It’s a remarkable Gigondas that’s up with the finest wines in the vintage.
Joe Czerwinski (Robert Parker) 94-96/100
From a sandy parcel planted to own-rooted Grenache in the 19th century, the 2018 Gigondas L'Argnee Vieilles Vignes boasts a stunning bouquet of dusty cherries and dried flowers. This full-bodied wine has what seems like a crystalline structure and purity, yet it's silky in feel at the same time, finishing long and firm. I'm sure it will age well for at least a decade. Drink Date 2020 - 2035. August 2019, The Wine Advocate"
Less than one hectare, this plot is located in the heart of the beautiful old village of Gigondas. The pre-phyloxera vines here are nearly 100 years old so naturally very low yields bring a fantastic intensity of pure fruit. There is no destemming before vinification which adds an extra complexity, freshness and tannins. The wine is then matured for 12 months in 1 year old foudres.
After an episode of drought throughout 2017, rain arrived in November. The mild winter enabled the teams to prune the vineyard in the most favourable days of the lunar calendar according to the principles of biodynamics. This precise work promoted a balanced vegetation and avoided any requirement for disbudding.
A good vegetative period followed until flowering which, thanks to the Mistral wind, took place in ideal conditions and created a potentially huge crop. All looked set for a perfect vintage, however, as the mercury began to rise, the amount of rain that followed, between early May and late June, made the vineyard work much more difficult and complicated than usual. The appellations of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône experienced a strong attack of mildew, especially on Grenache, a more sensitive variety that was the first to be affected. (The Gigondas appellation area was spared by the rain and therefore did not suffer any crop loss).
The dry, hot, good weather came back from July 1 to August 15 with plenty of high temperatures. A storm of 100 mm on August 15th was the last rainfall of the season. The good weather then lasted throughout the harvest, allowing us to pick each parcel at perfect maturity. The red grape harvest began on 7th September with Syrah in Côtes du Rhône, followed by Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan. The harvest ended on October 5th in Vinsobres.
The alcoholic fermentations went well: during the maceration we favoured soft extractions with daily pumping over. The malolactic fermentations started spontaneously at the beginning of November on all the wines. In 2018, the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape have a beautiful aromatic complexity with a nice balance, Gigondas are silky and elegant, the Vinsobres more round and opulent.
