The 1998 Gigondas (a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% Cinsault, aged 18 months primarily in vat, with about 10% in old barrels) was bottled with neither fining nor filtration. It is an impressive, succulent, opaque purple-colored wine with hedonistic levels of blackberry, cherry, truffle, licorice, and Asian spice notes. Full-bodied and sweet, with low acidity, and thrilling levels of extract, it will be at its finest between 2002-2015. Importers: K & L Wine Merchants, Redwood City, CA; tel. (650) 364-8544, Jocelyn Cambier Imports Inc., VA, tel. (703) 288-3370, Franklin Selections, Annapolis Junction, MD; tel. (800) 221-9916, and World Wine Source, Berkeley Heights, NJ; tel. (908) 771-9082