WTN: 1995 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Hautes Garrigues

1995 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues – I’m not sure why there is a general impression that Gigondas does not age well. This one has certainly aged gracefully – it still has a deep red colour with lightening at the rim, and a delicious nose of dark fruit with pepper and garrigue hints and faint barnyard, a noticeable amount of soft tannin in the mouth, and a lengthy very tasty finish. I sampled this wine in the late 90s and immediately went out and bought two cases – I am down to about a half case left and I am not sure that it has quite peaked yet. I would estimate this wine to be at about the same state of development as a similar vintage of Chateauneuf. The regular bottling from 1997 and 1998 are a bit further along but are also very good. Fortunately I also did the same sort of buy on the 95 Beaucastel – I think it is time to open the last case of it and have a look (been having about one per year to monitor development).

[Jenise]

Wow, you still have those! I remember one or two from the Gav lunches.

Yup - they seem to just keep going and going.....(follow link below)

https://media1.giphy.com/media/l0HlTU9K ... /giphy.gif

Anyone who does not think Gigondas does not age well, does not understand the appellation at all.

That's accurate - they seem to think it is some kind of Cotes du Rhone or something. The appellation is not exactly well known, and when you get into wines like Vacqueyras or Rasteau they just look at you blankly.