The 1996 Gigondas Cuvee Classique exhibits a peppery, roasted herb, smoky nose, blackberry, roasted, medium-bodied flavors, and a soft mid-palate. The finish is austere, with hard tannin. Drink it over the next 5-7 years. Importer: K & L Wine Merchants, Redwood City, CA; tel. (415) 364-8544 and World Wine Source, Berkeley Heights, NJ; tel. (908) 771-9082

The 1995 Gigondas boasts an opaque purple color, crisp acidity, amazing fruit ripeness and concentration (astonishing given the tart acids), a sweet, rich, powerful attack, and long, muscular, full-bodied flavors that finish in a youthful manner. It is an expressionistic, large-scaled Gigondas that is just beginning to develop. It will last for 10-15 years. This wine was tasted between June 1 and June 16, 1996.

In 1994, two cuvees were presented. The 1994 Gigondas Cuvee Classique exhibits an attractive spicy, peppery, mineral, and earth-scented nose, medium-bodied, ripe flavors, and an easy-going finish. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. This wine was tasted between June 1 and June 16, 1996.

The 1993 Gigondas exhibits a floral, licorice, earthy, cherry-scented nose, medium- to full-bodied, spicy flavors with fine concentration and glycerin and moderate tannin. A success for the vintage, it should be drunk over the next decade. Last tasted 6/96.

This disappointing 1992 Gigondas has plenty of company in this horrific vintage for Gigondas. The wine displays a stale vegetable, faded rose, weedy, burnt coffee aroma, and thin, harshly tannic flavors. Last tasted 6/95.