Domaine Giraud - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes 2019 (750ml)
Price: $132.00
Sale Price: $99.00
| Producer | Domaine Giraud |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhone Valley |
| Subregion | Chateauneuf du Pape |
| Varietal | Chateauneuf du Pape |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Sku | 1414085 |
| Size | 750ml |
Just to the west of town, this Domaine has since 1998 been under the stewardship of brother and sister team of Marie and Francois Giraud, whose lineage in winemaking on their father’s side stretches back six centuries. Their parents, Pierre and Mireille had started in 1974 as tenant farmers and gradually built up holdings of their own. The first bottled wine from the estate was produced from vintage 1981 after Marie’s family distillery was converted into a winemaking facility.
The estate – totaling 35 hectares - has extraordinarily well-situated vineyards of mostly old vines on the plateau of le Crau, Gallimarde and in the Pignan region. The Gallimarde parcel is particularly cherished, being a continuous block of 8 hectares planted with century old Grenache and Mourvèdre, in addition to some younger Syrah vines planted on soils richer in clay. The rest of the estate is spread across various parcels over the northern parts of the appellation.
The estate has been organic since 2011. Fermentation is in stainless steel and concrete tanks. Grenache and Mourvedre go into concrete tanks for aging, but the Syrah goes into French oak.
The cuvee Tradition is made up mostly of Grenache. The Les Gallimardes rouge cuvee is from an old parcel in the south that has long been owned by the estate planted to 100 year old Grenache and some Syrah, with several white varieties, planted on clay limestone soils, with each variety being vinified separately. Covered in galets, this soil gives a typically authentic Chateauneuf of power and concentration. The Les Grenaches des Pierre bottling comes from very old Grenache planted in sandy soils on le Crau and in Pignan. The wine is a homage to their father Pierre. The wine combines power and finesse.
Wine Advocate: 97 Points
A blend of 90% Grenache from century-old vines aged in concrete with 10% Syrah aged in used barriques the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes is a black-fruited beauty with notes of blackberries black cherries black licorice and black olives. Full-bodied rich and velvety with a lingering spice-inflected finish this is terrific stuff. Tasted twice (once blind) with the note reflecting the better bottle.
Vinous: 96 Points
Deep shimmering ruby. Pungent spice-accented red and dark berry liqueur licorice garrigue and potpourri scents show fine detail and minerally lift. Lush and expansive on the palate offering appealingly sweet black raspberry cherry and boysenberry flavors that become more lively as the wine opens up. Subtly chewy tannins add shape to the strikingly long sappy finish which echoes the floral and spice notes. -- Josh Raynolds
jdJeb Dunnuck: 95-97 Points
The Grenache dominated 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Gallimardes comes from a tiny parcel of very old vines in the Southern part of the appellation. It offers a touch more richness and depth aromatically compared to the classic cuvée and gives up lots of black raspberries kirsch liqueur roasted garrigue licorice fruitcake and incense. It's beautiful on the palate as well and is full-bodied has a concentrated layered mouthfeel ripe tannins and a great finish. It’s very much in the style of the vintage and will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for 15 years or more. (Drink between 2020-2035)
jd
