Aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, dried herbs such as thyme and rosemary, dark chocolate and baking spices. Full body with very fine tannins. Great balance with a velvety texture loaded with cherries and berries, and a harmonious, integrated structure. Textured, long and focused finish. Best after 2027.

A perfumed nose of blackberries, currants, leather, dried thyme, roasted meat and spice box. Full body with fine, firm tannins. Great energy with structure and a fine texture. Vibrant at the center with bright acidity and freshness towards the focused finish. Grenache and syrah. Best after 2029.

The flagship cuvee is the 2015 Gigondas Le Pas de L’Aigle and it comes from the highest part of the appellation (400 meters) and is 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. It spends upwards of two years in oak casks. The 2015 is up with the best vintages I’ve tasted of the cuvee and offers terrific notes of blackberries, black raspberries, toasted spice and licorice. It has full-bodied depth on the palate, a solid mid-palate and terrific tannin quality, I just hope the long elevage here doesn’t dry out the fruit.

Not yet bottled, the 2014 Gigondas Le Pas de L'Aigle has outstanding potential, but is certainly not one of the great examples of this cuvee. Medium-bodied, charming and supple, with terrific sweetness of fruit, it has notes of spice, dried raspberries and earth. I suspect it will drink nicely in its youth, and given its longer elevage (which seems to make a relatively stable wine), keep through 2024.