2009 Domaine Santa Duc "Prestige des Hautes Garrigues" Gigondas (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1079889 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A true whopper, and one of the great examples I have tasted from Yves Gras is his 2009 Gigondas Prestige Les Hautes Garrigues...and the level of concentration is remarkable. Inky purple to the rim, this wine, which is aged 20% in new oak casks and the rest in older wood and foudres, has a stunning nose of lead pencil shavings, incense, camphor, barbecue smoke, blackberry, cassis and kirsch. Its smorgasbord of aromas follow through in the mouth. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre, with ripe Mourvedre giving structure and a meaty complexity to the wine, this is a massive Gigondas that will hit its stride in 2-3 years, and last for two decades. I am not exaggerating its aging potential, as I still have bottles of the 1989 Prestige Les Hautes Garrigues that are fully mature, but gorgeous. One of the long-time benchmarks for superb Gigondas is Yves Gras’ estate on the high plateau several kilometers outside the entrance to this old Roman village. He has also expanded into the negociant end of the business with his Santa Duc Selections, which are very reliable wines worth a serious look. (10/ 2011)

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Deep ruby. Sexy blackberry and blackberry scents verge on liqueur-like, with bright mineral and spice notes providing energy. Lush, creamy and smooth, with densely packed dark berry flavors lifted by a spicy nuance. Supple tannins add shape to the very long, sweet, clinging finish. Incidentally, the 2006 version of this wine is drinking wonderfully, based on a bottle that I tried in New York in December. It is just hitting its plateau of maturity and will provide great pleasure for at least the next few years. (1/ 2012)