2020 Gigondas Les Routes Domaine des Bosquets

Opaque magenta. Highly perfumed aromas of red and blue fruit liqueur, licorice, Moroccan spices and peony are complemented by a smoky mineral overtone. It stains the palate with juicy, mineral- and spice-accented cherry, black raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that convey a suave blend of depth and energy. Velvety, even tannins frame an impressively long, floral-tinged finish that shows outstanding clarity and emphatic dark fruit thrust.

The 2020 Gigondas Les Routes is all Syrah (the Serine clone common in the Northern Rhône), and it's a blockbuster of a wine offering a mammoth-sized bouquet of black and blue fruits, lavender, game, leather, and exotic herbs. It actually reminds me of a great vintage of Clos des Truffiers given it's richness and depth. Full-bodied, expansive, and mouth-filling, it's a monster of a Syrah that still somehow manages to stay balanced and elegant.

A big-boned, crowd-pleasing red, with plum liqueur, ripe fig and black raspberry coated in melted licorice and cast iron. Delivers warm earth and hummus flavors that play a supporting role, while chocolate ganache adds richness. Though generous, this has a mineral-driven energy throughout.