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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.9 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 74 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Alcofribas on 4/12/2024 & rated 92 points: Drinking very well right now. Nicely balanced. Tertiary notes. 15% abv. (78 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 2/8/2024 & rated 93 points: So happy I saved one bottle to drink this year. It is a great beauty now. Dark berries, dark chocolate, laurel, beautiful acidity and round tannin with still a soft bite. Pity this is my last bottle. Great and fresh length. When stored well this can be kept another 2 - 3 years. (413 views) | | | Tasted by A&C on 12/24/2023 & rated 93 points: Believe it or not, this wine is still a bit young. I think it needs another 5 years. There are really interesting coffee and toffee notes in this wine, and a wonderful blend of fruit, but it still has some tannins that need to blow off. Drunk side-by-side with an Ovid Hexameter 2012, and in comparison, the Hexameter was at its perfect drinkability window, and this wine was but a teenager. Great potential here, but sit on it a bit. (259 views) | | | Tasted by Gunman on 9/9/2023: Stunning. Needs a little air on opening. But really pretty after an hour. This can go another 7-10 years. Tannins still prominent, but balanced. Dark fruit and herbal components play well together. This shows the best of what Gigondas can be. Lovely. Still has time, if you want to wait. (358 views) | | | Tasted by Lma1969 on 7/3/2023 & rated 95 points: This was the eight from a case. All have been excellent. This time paired with Lamb cooked in a traeger with a meat church rub and garlic and rosemary up to 200 degrees so it could be pulled. This richly spiced lamb brought out a new depth to the wine. It was always rich with deep red raspberry and some black fruits but now there was backing spices, clove, cinnamon, plus the dense undergrowth. This wine is in a beautiful drinking window. Serve with powerfully spiced meats and you will not be dissatisfied. (370 views) | | | Tasted by oldcorke on 3/5/2023 & rated 99 points: Camphor tinged smokey molasses dusty smashed granite nose with overripe apricot, dark black cherry & plum. Verging on the lighter side of port yet still deft & lithe. Power... with grace. Fine pairing with coffee/cumin/black pepper rubbed wagyu loin steaks... seared in heavy cast iron. (483 views) | | | Tasted by Lma1969 on 3/8/2022: Deep red cherry fruit. Loads of rich spice. Powerhouse wine. Drank with a spicy roast. 1st of a case purchased on auction. Looking forward to the rest. I could see this with barbecue over the summer. (918 views) | | | Tasted by Vancouver on 4/5/2021 & rated 93 points: Deep Ruby in appearance.
Pronounced and evolved aromas of kirsch, other red fruits, baling spice, herbal elements and of course the estates tell tale bright cherry note. Complex aroma without any hint of fatigue at age 13 or so.
Full bodied on the plate with similar flavor characteristics, good structure and acidity ( for a 13 year old Gigondas) and a delicious and savory medium plus finish.
Overall very well and stood up nicely to a reverse seared steak.
The is bottle was purchased on release and stored properly ever since. Based on this sample, similarly stored bottles will keep for another decade, but no need to wait and I don't anticipate further improvement. (1368 views) | | | Tasted by Mossrose on 7/21/2020 & rated 93 points: At 13 years of age the color is a dark garnet with slight warm brown hues. On the nose concentrated dark fruit, stone and berry. Rolls over the tongue voluptuously. Very complex. Garrigue, black berries and kirsch, rich and complex. Long, satisfying finish with lingering tannins. And I should note that I opened the wine three days ago and if anything it is still getting better. Hope my remaining bottles have held up this beautifully! (1442 views) | | | Tasted by RichardP on 3/30/2020 & rated 92 points: Raspberry on the nose. On the palate, blackberry, kirsch, blueberry, and notes of anise and tapenade, with light tannins and strong acidity on the medium to long finish. This is slightly jammy, and it does show a little alcoholic heat; if not for that I would score it higher. At about $30 it's an excellent value even with its modest defects. It seems to be at its peak, and it probably won't get better. The Cellartracker drinking window looks about right for once. (1579 views) | | | Tasted by DarinC on 2/18/2020 & rated 84 points: Raisins, iron, violets. Needs air to blow off the excess heat. Overripe.
Drink now. (1578 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 12/23/2019 & rated 91 points: Dark berries and quite mature. Still a lovely wine, but I wonder if it will still be ok 5 years from now. (1570 views) | | | Tasted by Bsharmastl on 7/31/2019 & rated 88 points: I got a nice whiff of violets and earth with red fruits. Was expecting my socks blown off from the taste, but apart from the dark cherry and licorice, could not decipher more. Very small finish.
Not a typical Gigonda. Almost makes me think it is past it’s prime. (1255 views) | | | Tasted by thalver on 4/21/2019: Drinking well....the balance between fruit, spice, herbs and structure was very good. Just enough tannin to provide some balance. A bit hot, but not as bad as some '07 Southern Rhones have been. I don't know that I see this getting any better, but should hold for a while. (1125 views) | | | Tasted by Winiac on 4/16/2019 & rated 91 points: Spicy and full-bodied. Prominent oak.Round and generous. Mild alcohol excess. (1098 views) | | | Tasted by peternelson on 1/7/2019 & rated 91 points: Macerated blueberries, raspberry and cherry syrup; licorice, a hint of burnt rubber, wet earth and a little garrigue, but the fruit and warmth masks the earthy notes; silky, plush, drining well, in a good place, mid-way in its development; pretty warm in the finish; I like this, aging well, not a fan of the '07's but still pretty good even if a little overblown. With prime rib ramen from Bone Kettle delivered. 90-91 (1282 views) | | | Tasted by Buick455 on 8/12/2017 & rated 93 points: Decanted 2 hour, drank over 2 hours. Amazing how it still needs a lot of time to open up. Dark violet opaque color. Intense nose of plum, dark red/black fruit. Concentrated palate of plum, black currant, ink, liqorice Just lovely. (2088 views) | | | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 4/26/2017 & rated 90 points: Gidgondas and Lirac (Chris H's home): Another one that I think is starting to fade a bit. There is a fair amount of VA so perhaps just at an awkward stage. I would give this some slow ox before drinking but be drinking it sooner than later. All that said, I think it is very nice now if the VA doesn't bother you. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is dusty with cherries and nail polish. On the palate, dusty black cherries. Thick tannins. Not sure if there is enough fruit to outlast the tannins. Nice enough on the finish. (3085 views) | | | Tasted by Mossrose on 3/14/2017 & rated 93 points: Opaque with an inch pour and a fruity nose of blackberry and black raspberry. The sip begins with a well structured one-two punch of firm tannin and bright acidity that keeps the wine closer to dry and astringent than mellow. The swallow brings back a richer fruit taste and the final finish has a surprisingly integrated taste with the beginning of a rounded edge. Overall, the wine needs more years of aging to harness its great power and complexity to a lush, fruit forward, and caressing delivery. (96 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 10/7/2016 & rated 90 points: DTC Chateauneuf du Pape (@ SS): Beautiful bouquet with ripe dark and red forest fruits as well as garrigue. On the palate very concentrated with a lot of sweetness, ink, dark berries, licorice, acidity as well, but at this moment this bottle lacks elegance and is a bit alcoholic. I was less impressed compared to my two previous notes and I hope the wine is in a dumb phase, because I have two more bottles. There will be a follow up. 89 – 90 for tonight. (3183 views) | | | Tasted by KristianT on 8/28/2016 & rated 89 points: Pitch black and dense. Notes of tar and smoke. On the palate black fruits and a whopping alcohol burn. Very interesting albeit not balanced in its current stage of maturity. I think I will keep my last bottle for a handful of years more and see what happens. (2688 views) | | | Tasted by morpheusrising on 5/31/2016 & rated 92 points: Wow this sucker is young! If I'd been blind I might have guess it was NORTHERN Rhone.
Tons of fruit, mostly dark. Black cherry, tar, tobacco. Palette was the same but with an added dose of black pepper that was really at the forefront. Elegant wine, but way too much muscle right now. Needs another 10 at the least! (2247 views) | | | Tasted by ephorn on 10/9/2015 & rated 93 points: This starts off thick and concentrated but retains balancing acidity. There is a wealth of fruit with garrigue and a touch of bitterness. Tannins are medium light. Alcohol not a detractor at 15%. Nice floral/perfume when on the palate. (2429 views) | | | Tasted by winot on 7/6/2015 & rated 91 points: A bit too Rubenesque for me, but smooth and tasty, with some undeniably nice fruit - just this side of OTT, it screams ripeness w/o quite tipping over into the jammy - good acidity, and the nose retains a nice garrigue note that balances off well against the other big plummy aromas - finishes well, dry. A good result for the vintage. (2565 views) | | | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 5/13/2015 & rated 92 points: Some nice wines over the last two nights; 5/13/2015-5/14/2015: Really in a nice place right now. A nose of boysenberries, spice and some earthiness. Full bodied. Plenty of fruit left. Nice acidity. Medium to full bodied. Juicy. Nice boysenberry fruit with some earthiness. No hurry. Getting close to peak though. (2788 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Domaine Saint-Damien Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
St. Damien was an Early Christian saint (martyred in the year 287 A.D.), considered the patron saint of doctors. There was a chapel to his honour in the tiny hamlet of La Baumette, just outside the village of Gigondas, where Joel Saurel, the owner of the domaine, lives. The name Saint Damien for the domaine was introduced in 1979. Four generations have worked on this family estate since 1821. In 2013 Romain joined his father on the estate. The estate has been certified organic since 2012.Red Rhone Blend Read about the different grapes used to produce red and white Rhone wines
On CellarTracker, Red Rhone Blend is the term for a wine consisting of two or more of the traditional 13 Southern Rhone grape varieties. Typically it's the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre or Cinsault grapes, but can also contain the Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Picardan or Vaccarese grapes.
A 'food' wine. Lacking pretension and intended for local consumption with local cuisine. Lacks the 'high' notes on a Bordeaux, more earthy and sharper so often a better partner to meat dishes with a sauce. France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comRhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Rhone Valley The Rhône Valley/Le Vins de la Vallée du Rhône (Comité Interprofession des vins AOC Côtes et vallée du Rhône)
### Wine Scholar Guild's Rhône valley vintage charts & ratings ###Southern Rhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Southern Rhone Valley
Gigondas Gigondas: La Vinaltude
The lieux dits on weinlagen-info |
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