97pts Jeb Dunnuck

Coming from a sandy parcel just beside the winery and all old-vine Grenache, the 2018 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit makes the most of this vintage and is a classic example of this cooler terroir. Gorgeous notes of kirsch liqueur, rose petals, strawberries, spring flowers, toasted spices, and peppery herbs all give way to a full-bodied, beautifully textured, elegant Gigondas that has a wonderful sense of finesse, classic southern Rhône power and richness, flawless balance, and a great finish. It’s one of the wines of the vintage. While it’s not the biggest wine in the lineup, it has incredible finesse and elegance.

96pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit (100% Grenache, grown on sand) is a profound success, boasting subtle garrigue aromas that lend layers of complexity to the bold black cherry and raspberry fruit. It's not overly dark in the glass, but seduces with its perfume and silken touch. Full-bodied, but supple and charming, this is a top-notch effort, capped off by a long, mouthwatering finish.

95pts Wine Enthusiast

Sourced from 60-year-old vines planted in sandy soil, this varietal Grenache offers gob smacking ripeness alongside freshness. It’s a big, richly extracted wine but the red-plum and cherry flavors are vibrant, lifted by minerality and pert, upright acidity. Silky tannin's accentuate the rippling mouthfeel. Ready to drink now, the wine is solid enough to improve through 2030 and hold longer. Editors’ Choice.

94pts Wine Spectator

A fresh, focused style, with a red fruit profile of currant, damson plum and raspberry infused with rooibos tea, singed cedar, mineral and light savory notes. Approachable now, but there's racy grip on the back end and plenty in reserve to make this worth cellaring as well.

Winemaker Notes

A ruby-purple color. A fresh and expressive nose, on small red berries, morello cherry, cherry, licorice sweet, plum and kirsch. Tannins of great finesse and freshness, all the typicity of the sands.

Winery Notes

Much like many of the appellations of the southern Rhône, the wines of Gigondas are based on the Grenache grape. It tends to rusticity if yields are not checked or if it is vinified carelessly. It is supported by Syrah and Mourvèdre with smaller amounts of various other varieties. There are two types of wine made in Gigondas, red and rosé, but the production of rosé is so small it’s mainly an academic point. Gigondas is red wine country. While you can find some white varieties in the vineyards, they are either bottled as Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc or co-fermented with the red grapes to make Gigondas red and rosé wines.