SOLD OUT! Vintage 2016 will go down as one of the best of all time in France’s Rhone Valley, and Domaine du Grand Montmirail nailed with their Gigondas in this highly rated vintage.
Guess what? I offered this one up back in January and sold about 30 cases in less than a week. Good news — my distributor got me 14 more cases, the wine is drinking even better now, and I’m offering this one up at the best price in the country……..again. You won’t find a better Southern Rhone for the money.
2016 Grand Montmirail Gigondas ‘Les Deux Juliette Selection des Vieille Vignes’
95 points Jeb Dunnuck, 94 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 93 points Wine Enthusiast
SOLD OUT
‘Rhone Valley Master’ Jeb Dunnuck called this “the finest wine ever from this estate.” Wow, bold statement from one of the best Rhone palates in the game. And he’s right! I’ve carried every vintage of this one since 2008, and it’s always an impressive wine and a tremendous value. But the 2016 is in a league of its own.
“It’s an incredibly gorgeous, full-bodied, powerful yet elegant Gigondas that has rocking notes of plums, black raspberries, kirsch, spice, and new saddle leather literally soaring from the glass. With ultra-fine tannins, a silky, seamless texture, no hard edges, and a great, great finish, it’s a wine to buy by the case.” Yep, buy this one by the case. Drink some now, but do lay some down to enjoy down the road.
Seriously, where else are you going to find 95-point-rated, “finest wine ever from this estate,” Gigondas for less than $30? You’re not going to. In 2016, all of the forces of nature came together to create ideal conditions in the Southern Rhone. Warm and sunny conditions prevailed, creating the best vintage I’ve met in my 20 year wine career. Yes, I like the ’16’s even more than the ’07’s and the ’10’s……….by a hair of course. It’s a vintage to invest in, as wines like this are glorious now, but they’re going to reward the patient.
Age of vines, quality of vintage, and a unique winemaking technique come together to make this one of the top Southern Rhone values of the 2016 vintage. The core of this wine is Grenache from 65+ year old vines and brought up entirely in concrete tanks. The rest of the blend is 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre which are both de-stemmed and raised in French oak barrels, 30% new. The decision to de-stem and to raise some of the wine in oak adds to the pleasure principle of this one. It’s round and opulent, yet full bodied and powerful. Bravo!
Think it’s too hot to be drinking big reds this time of year? Nonsense! Try this with any sort of grilled meat or your favorite barbecue (takeout included) and experience wine and food bliss.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville