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The domaine's top Gigondas, with crisp berry fruit, cranberry and raspberry. It's fresh, with a tiny VA note that lifts the fruit and plentiful fine, fresh, crisp tannins. It ends on a fresh, slightly saline note. Long and elegant, with great energy, if not hugely structured or concentrated. Not destemmed; fermented in concrete tanks then aged in foudres. (MW)

Some fresh rosemary and pine needles bring a herbal, resinous note to the wine. It has some generosity on the palate, juicy red fruits, strawberry and raspberry, with lovely bright acidity and freshness. All in all, a precise, detailed, fresh and vibrant style of Gigondas that's well balanced and authentic. (MW)

A well-rounded, lively and almost floral Gigondas with small red berries, wildflowers and baking spices on the nose, following through to a full body with polished tannins. Seductive texture with supple fruit character to the long, fine finish.

Bid on this 2-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 2016 Domaine les Pallieres "Les Racines" Gigondas (96JD, 96JS, (94-96RP), 94VN, 93WS) and 1-bottle of 2016 Domaine les Pallieres "Terrasse du Diable" Gigondas (95JD, 95JS, 95VN, (92-94RP), 93WS). Of the 2016 Domaine les Pallieres "Les Racines" Gigondas, Wine Advocate writes: "The 2016 Gigondas Les Racines was in its foudres at the time of my visit, but I still think it is the equal of the Brunier family's Châteauneufs. Full-bodied and rich but silky and almost lacy in texture, it marries raspberries and apricots with lovely herbal nuances and a lingering finish. It's a tremendous Gigondas, made from 75-year-old vines. (JC)" (08/2018)

Bid on this 3-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 2015 Domaine Saint Damien "Les Souteyrades" Gigondas Vieilles Vignes (97JD, 94RP), 1-bottle of 2015 Domaine Saint-Damien "La Louisiane" Gigondas (95JD, 95RP, (92-94VN)), and 1-bottle of 2016 Domaine Saint-Damien "La Louisiane" Gigondas (96JD, 95WE, 94RP, 93VN). Of the 2015 Domaine Saint Damien "Les Souteyrades" Gigondas Vieilles Vignes, Jeb Dunnuck writes: "The most opulent and voluptuous of the 2015s, the 2015 Gigondas Les Souteyrades is heavenly juice that, again, drinks well past its humble price point. Just loaded with notions of strawberries, framboise, spring flowers, dried orange peels and spice, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a thick, unctuous texture, sweet tannin and a great, great finish. This cuvee is the normal 80/20 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre, aged all in foudre, and there’s just 750 cases made." (10/2017)

Bid on this 3-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 1979 Guigal Hermitage and 2-bottles of 1985 E. Guigal Gigondas. Of the 1979 Guigal Hermitage, Wine Advocate writes: "At one time this was the finest Hermitage of the vintage after Jaboulet's La Chapelle and Sorrell's Le Meal. Guigal's 1979 was a big, beefy, intense wine that seemed to be evolving better than the more highly acclaimed 1978. It is still a fine effort, but fully mature and in need of being drunk up. A bouquet of smoked meat, olives, and old saddle leather is showing some age. (RP)" (12/1996)

When I was in the Rhône this past March and April, I visited dozens of producers and spent several days at a traveling wine fair, tasting with dozens more. But it would have been criminal of me not to carve out time for Jean-Baptiste Meunier of Moulin de la Gardette, one of my favorite producers in one of my favorite crus—Gigondas. We’ve worked with JB for decades now, and I consider his wines among the truest, most terroir-driven expressions in the region. Part of this buying trip was reconnecting with our longtime partners, scouting new talent, and hunting for opportunities for our Discovery Series label. Naturally, JB was my first stop in Gigondas. His wines have always felt like pure Gigondas—capturing the essence of the marl and limestone soils and layered with the perfume of the surrounding garrigue. That coastal scrub, rich with natural oils from thyme, bay, and lavender, subtly inflects the wines with the unmistakable character of the place. During our visit, I noticed a tank off to one side and asked about its contents. This was the wine JB uses to top off barrels, round out his cuvées, and eventually sell the remainder to a négociant for blending. The vessel was simply marked Tank 11. Out of curiosity, I asked to taste it—and was immediately surprised. The wine was vibrant and fruit-filled, bursting with black raspberry, lavender, strawberries, and that classic hint of bay leaf. It was fleshy yet lifted, expressive yet effortlessly drinkable. JB’s Tradition and Ventabren bottlings tend to be deeper, more savory, and more structured—beautiful wines that reward time in bottle. What struck me about Tank 11 was its accessibility: supple, open-knit, and welcoming, yet still unmistakably Gardette and unmistakably Gigondas. It captured the region’s personality with a truly user-friendly attitude—exactly what we look for in a Discovery wine. As an aside, the wine has just landed in our warehouse, and I opened my first bottles upon arrival. There’s always a moment of suspense—tank samples can shift as they settle into bottle. But tasting it again, I was transported right back to the cellar several months ago. All of its generosity, brightness, and openness are intact. This is one of the most delightful Gigondas I’ve tasted in years and exactly what the Discovery Series is meant to highlight: wines of place, character, and value. I think you’ll agree—this is one of the best-drinking Rhône wines on our shelves right now.

Grenache noir 70%, Syrah 30%. Liqourice, wild herbs and bright cherry fruit on the nose leading to a ripe but beautifully focused palate. Textural and refined with sweet cherry and berry fruits, offering pleasure and elegance.

The 2023 Gigondas checks in as 80% Grenache and 10% each Syrah and Mourvèdre brought up in a mix of barrels and foudre. Complex red and black fruits, peppery garrigue, and leather notes all define the nose, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a pure, graceful mouthfeel, and ripe tannins. It's a beautiful, classic Gigondas from this estate to drink over the coming decade or so.