2019 Gigondas Le Plateau Domaine des Bosquets

The nearly 100-year-old Mourvèdre vines cropped a mere 10 hectoliters per hectare for the 2019 Gigondas Le Plateau, meaning there are just three demi-muids. It's a powerful, richly tannic version of this wine, full-bodied but not inelegant, marrying plummy fruit with spicy complexities reminiscent of tree bark, star anise, clove and more. While reasonably open as a barrel sample, I suspect it will close down and require several years of aging after release yet be capable of drinking well for two decades.

This shows a prominent leather-wrapped and cassis-soaked rosemary flavor profile, while bitter cherry and plum fruit notes make a bid for attention. The finish is paved with warm stone and smoldering garrigue accents, along with a long, lingering tobacco edge. A Bandol-esque version of Gigondas. Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache and Clairette. Best from 2025 through 2040.

Cherries, plums, licorice, 5 Spice, and white pepper permeate the nose and palate of this ripe, concentrated, full-bodied, intense wine. Another year or two in the cellar should add a bit more roundness to the wine. The wine is produced from old vine Mourvedre that is close to 100 years of age!

95P+: All Mourvèdre, the 2019 Gigondas Le Plateau is a full-bodied, rich, powerful wine. Revealing a deep purple/plum color as well as lots of darker fruits, new leather, graphite, and ground pepper aromatics, it has masses of ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It’s a seriously good wine, yet 4-5 years of bottle age are recommended. This cuvée comes from a single parcel of vines planted in 1922.

Deep ruby. Expansive, smoke- and mineral-tinged cherry pit and black raspberry aromas unfold slowly and take on a bright floral aspect. Chewy and tightly wound on entry, bitter cherry, dark berry preserve and licorice flavors deepen and unwind through the back half. It finishes long and gently chewy, with mounting tannins and resonating cherry and floral notes.