2017 Château Gigognan "Clos du Roi" Châteauneuf-du-Pape
SKU #1682730
95 points
Wine Enthusiast
Wafting of garrigue, blackberries and dusty earth, there's so much to appreciate on the nose itself of this inky Grenache blend. Rounded and plush, it's richly packed with plummy black cherry and berry flavors that mesh into fine-grained but gripping tannins. A wine that should reach peak from 2022 to 2037 yet likely hold further still. (AI)
(3/2021)
92 points
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Clos Du Roi checks in as a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 15% Syrah brought up 10% new barrels, with the balance in old barrels and tank. A beautiful, gamey, Mourvèdre-dominated nose of currants, cracked pepper, tapenade, aged beef, and spice give way to a medium-bodied Châteauneuf Du Pape that has fine tannins, terrific balance, and just loads of complexity and character. It will keep for a decade. It's actually slightly more successful than the 2016.
(8/2019)
K&L Notes
Like many great estates, Château Gigognan has a long and storied past. The roots of the vineyards date back to the time of the Romans. Bishop Geoffroy of Avignon even had a hand in the estate in the twelfth century. The property's modern history began when Anne and Jacques Callet purchased the Clos du Roi domaine and began restoring the château. All through the 1990s, the Callets worked to rebuild the property and create a better-equipped cellar. As of 2009, the winery has been certified organic. In 2012, Philippe Cambie came on board to consult with the winemaking and rework some of the vineyard plantings. Jacques Callet passed away in July of 2016, and the property was purchased by Jean-Francois Henin in 2017. A new era began, and even greater restoration has taken place. A whole new production facility has been added, and winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt now leads the charge to establish the winery as one of the most exciting in the region. The "Clos du Roi" is primarily one large parcel with just a few tiny satellite parcels. Planted over galets (the classic round white stones of Châteauneuf-du-Pape), the terroir is located in the southern and driest part of the appellation. Composed of primarily Grenache and Syrah, the wine is aged in a mix of stainless steel and older wood. It is a pure and expressive version of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a welcome addition to our Direct Import program.
