Medium ruby color; raspberry, dark cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, strawberry, garrigue (scent of Mediterranean scrubland), thyme, sage, licorice on the nose and palate.
Dry; evolving tannins, consider decant; mild balancing acidity. Medium-plus body, good balance and length. Supple mouthfeel, especially after some exposure to air. Blend of 60% grenache, 30% syrah, 5% mourvèdre, 5% cinsault. Complete destemming. Vinified in concrete vats for 21 days with manual punchdowns and pumpovers. Aged in concrete tanks, thus no oak notes. Clean presentation of Gigondas GSM with dollop of cinsault. 14% ABV
The Gigondas La Cave story begins in 1956 when a frost hit Provence and devastated many olive groves, leaving opportunities for the planting of grape vines. Seven winegrowers formed a cooperative to market their production in bottles. In French usage, “La Cave” means “Cooperative Cellar.” There has been steady growth and improvement of facilities which is described online, but in a way that does not lend itself to translation in a review (literally in one sense, since the copy is in French and not translated even on the English portion of the website).
The cooperative today includes more than 80 growers cultivating more than 640 acres—making it one of the largest producers in Gigondas. The cooperative model allows small growers to share facilities for vinification, bottling, and marketing, while still highlighting individual vineyard sites such as Beaumirail.
Gigondas and Châteauneuf du Pape are the superstar appellations of the Southern Rhône. Although only separated by some 16 miles, they have significant differences. Châteauneuf du Pape is lower in elevation and famous for its galets roulés—rounded stones that absorb daylight heat and radiate back to the vines at night, promoting optimal ripening. Gigondas is a smaller appellation. It occupies an impressive amphitheater at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. Gigondas vineyards are at significantly higher elevations compared to Châteauneuf du Pape. Instead of the rounded stones, Gigondas soils are diverse, including clay-limestone, sand, and limestone. Châteauneuf du Pape allows 13 different grape varieties, dominated by grenache. Gigondas is more restrictive, requiring minimum of 50% grenache, accompanied by syrah, mourvèdre, and cinsault—the varieties in this effort.
Gigondas wines typically are more powerful and rustic than their more glamorous neighbor. They often are fresher with more mineral expression, more tannins and structure with excellent aging potential. Gigondas La Cave Vacqueyras Beaumirail fits this generalization.
Gigondas La Cave Vacqueyras Beaumirail 2022 is elegant with generous, delicious, seductive layers of fruit, especially after some air exposure. Faithful presentation of Gigondas GSM style and terroir. No oak so, clean, pure expression of standard four Gigondas fruits—grenache, syrah, mourvèdre, cinsault. Excellent value. As wine wags say: Gigondas offers the same pleasures a Châteauneuf du Pape at half the price. $22-26
Pairing—Lamb is classic; lamb couscous, braised lamb, lamb stews, roast leg of lamb with herbs, lamb Rogan Josh. Beef; beef daube (traditiona Provençal stew), grilled ribeye, braised beef, boeuf bourguignon. Roast venison, duck breast, wild boar. Basque chicken, chicken with morel mushrooms. Cheese—aged cheddar, aged gouda, comté, asiago, manchego; gruyère, cantal.
