The first vintage from the new 25-acre estate they purchased in Gigondas is the 2008 Gigondas (80% Grenache and 20% Syrah). One of the finest wines I tasted from what is a disappointing vintage for that appellation, the wine exhibits some tannin, but plenty of sweet blueberry and black currant fruit interwoven with hints of crushed rocks and acacia flowers. It is an impeccably well-made offering from a tough year that should drink well for 6-8 years. (Not yet released) One of the great estates of the Rhone Valley, Chateau Beaucastel has been run by several generations of the Perrin family, beginning with the late Jacques Perrin (who died in 1978), then the brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois, and now their sons Thomas, Marc, Pierre, and Mathieu. Beaucastel has nearly 200 acres in vine in Chateauneuf du Pape, and they have branched out with an impressive operation under the Perrin et Fils label, purchasing grapes and acquiring land (in Vinsobres and Gigondas, for example). Their goal is to become the most recognized name for high quality wines in the southern Rhone. As shrewd consumers know, one of the best values in under $10 a bottle wine is La Vieille Ferme. The Perrin et Fils cuvees include wines made from purchased grapes as well as their new acquisitions in Vinsobres, Gigondas (25 acres), and the Cotes du Rhone village of Cairanne (35 acres). The Perrins enjoyed tremendous success with their 2008 red wines, largely because yields ranged between 18 hectoliters per hectare for Beaucastel, to only 20 hectoliters per hectare for Coudoulet. The mildew that affected everyone was the culprit. The entire family acknowledged there was an extraordinary triage and culling out of the grapes at the sorting tables. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802

The first vintage from the new 25-acre estate they purchased in Gigondas is the 2008 Gigondas (80% Grenache and 20% Syrah). One of the finest wines I tasted from what is a disappointing vintage for that appellation, the wine exhibits some tannin, but plenty of sweet blueberry and black currant fruit interwoven with hints of crushed rocks and acacia flowers. It is an impeccably well-made offering from a tough year that should drink well for 6-8 years. (Not yet released)One of the great estates of the Rhone Valley, Chateau Beaucastel has been run by several generations of the Perrin family, beginning with the late Jacques Perrin (who died in 1978), then the brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois, and now their sons Thomas, Marc, Pierre, and Mathieu. Beaucastel has nearly 200 acres in vine in Chateauneuf du Pape, and they have branched out with an impressive operation under the Perrin et Fils label, purchasing grapes and acquiring land (in Vinsobres and Gigondas, for example). Their goal is to become the most recognized name for high quality wines in the southern Rhone. As shrewd consumers know, one of the best values in under $10 a bottle wine is La Vieille Ferme. The Perrin et Fils cuvees include wines made from purchased grapes as well as their new acquisitions in Vinsobres, Gigondas (25 acres), and the Cotes du Rhone village of Cairanne (35 acres). The Perrins enjoyed tremendous success with their 2008 red wines, largely because yields ranged between 18 hectoliters per hectare for Beaucastel, to only 20 hectoliters per hectare for Coudoulet. The mildew that affected everyone was the culprit. The entire family acknowledged there was an extraordinary triage and culling out of the grapes at the sorting tables.Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802

The 2003 Gigondas is a lighter-styled, feminine effort that lacks the substance, power, and concentration of the appellation’s best vintages. 2003 was a challenging year for Gigondas, and this wine reflects that. Importers: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802 and T. Edward Wines, New York, NY; tel. (212) 233-1504

The 2003 Gigondas is a lighter-styled, feminine effort that lacks the substance, power, and concentration of the appellation’s best vintages. 2003 was a challenging year for Gigondas, and this wine reflects that. Importers: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802 and T. Edward Wines, New York, NY; tel. (212) 233-1504