2010 Montirius "Terre des Aînés" Gigondas

SKU #1111736 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Vivid ruby. Dark fruits and potpourri on the highly perfumed nose. Fleshy and deep, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors and a touch of floral pastilles. Spicy and precise on a finish that features silky tannins and a touch of candied licorice. (2/ 2013)

89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The biggest cuvee is the 2010 Gigondas Terre des Aines, of which 6,000 cases are made from a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre aged in concrete. This beauty exhibits lots of garrigue, pepper, roasted meats, spice, kirsch and black currant fruit. Deep, full and supple, it should drink well for 7-8 years. (10/ 2012)

Jancis Robinson

Pale crimson. Rich and gritty and grainy. Quite oxidative style. Lots of fun. Rich. Spicy. (12/ 2011)

K&L Notes

Montirius is the impeccable fifth-generation estate of the Saurel family, a leading producer of Vacqueyras and Gigondas wines in the southern Rhone Valley. The Saurels make a range of deeply scented and flavored wines imbued with Provence's spice and structure. These are sensual wines with unusual finesse, possessing penetrating minerality and length. Planted in clay and limestone, half of the estate's vines in Gigondas were planted by the family's great grandfather in 1925. The estate has been practicing biodynamic viticulture for more than ten years. 14.5% abv