2020 Gigondas Domaine Raspail-Ay

Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and botanical herbs that are complemented by an exotic spice note building in the glass. Stains the palate with intense raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily deepen with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long and floral, with fine-grained tannins adding a discreet grip.

Could the 2020 Gigondas be the best ever from this estate? The usual blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre that was destemmed and brought up in very old foudre, it has wonderful purity (which is a trait of the vintage) in its red and black fruits as well as notes of ground pepper, Provençal garrigue, and cedary spice. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this is never the biggest or richest wine in the vintage yet it oozes Provence character, is perfectly balanced, has great tannins, and is going to deliver the goods for upwards of two decades.

Et rigtig godt bud på en julevin, som placerer sig prismæssigt i midten af feltet. Den er primært lavet på Grenache, hvilket giver en skøn fyldig rødvin, hvor der både er masser af frugt men også syre og blide tanniner, som er præcis det, der skal bruges til at klare julemaden. Næsen bydes på duft af kirsebær, lakrids, peber og et lille hint af røg.

Frugten er levende, ren og klar, årgangen taler her. Moden blomme i næsen, masser af provencalske urter, en hjertevarm og feststemt vin. Hvis man har et sted at opbevare dem fornuftigt, er det i hvert fald ikke et problem at købe 12, for den vil udvikle sig positivt, tror jeg. Drikkes den juleaften, skal man hælde den på karaffel.