The 2014 Gigondas la Gille comes almost all from estate fruit (there's some very old vine fruit from Franck Alexandre), and comes all from sandy soils, vinified with a more gentle extraction than the Beaucastel releases. From a difficult vintage, it's a smokin' wine that offers elegant, perfumed notes of kirsch, bouquet garni and black cherries on the nose. These give way to a medium-bodied, supple, seamless Gigondas that has more upfront charm and character than most in the vintage. While I doubt it will make old bones, it will certainly evolve nicely on its overall balance and harmony.

This has a core of gently mulled plum and red currant fruit inlaid with gentle menthol, bay leaf and tobacco accents. Lightly dusty tannins and an echo of juniper show on the finish. Nicely done for the vintage. Drink now through 2025. 3,000 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Southern Rh?ne / Gigondas Select to Add