The dark ruby/purple-colored 1999 Gigondas exhibits minerals, black raspberries, and cherry fruit, medium body, and moderate tannin. The wine suggests it will be drinkable when released, and should last for a decade or more. 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

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

Charming and very beautiful. Not a big wine, but tender and pure, with clean floral, rose petal, earth and cherry flavors. Complex, with a long finish, and delicious to revel in now through 1998.??–null??Region: France / Southern Rh?ne / Gigondas Select to Add

Distinctive, with lovely cassis, coffee, crushed black cherry and wild berry flavors. Quite lush and smooth on the palate, medium-bodied, it shows length on the lingering finish. Try in 1998.??–null??Region: France / Southern Rh?ne / Gigondas Select to Add

The 1993 Gigondas exhibits a floral, licorice, earthy, cherry-scented nose, medium to full-bodied, spicy flavors with fine concentration, glycerin, and moderate tannin. It should be drunk over the next decade. No known American importer.