2018 Caves de Gigondas Gigondas L’Hallali Grande Reserve 750ML

The gateway to French wine is the Southern Rhone, and one of the biggest bang for your buck appellations in Southern Rhone is legendary town of Gigondas.  With all of the tasting and research I do, my own personal collection consists of top Gigondas producers for three reasons.  First, they age in a very friendly wine consuming way.  In great vintages, they enter their optimal drinking window early, and plateau in excellence for anywhere from 15-30 years.  Secondly, they are some of the most food friendly wines in the world.  They have richness, density, fruit concentration, and some of the most beautiful aromatics that rival only great Red Burgundy, but they do not hit you over the head with tannin and alcohol.  You can have a table full of friends and family, with varying foods and palates and Gigondas will always fit like a glove.  And third, they are much more affordable than the “big brother” of Chateauneuf du Pape.

Gigondas is a 25 minute drive northeast from Chateauneuf du Pape and gained popularity after being referred to by Robert Parker as “baby Chateauneuf du Pape.”  The wines of Chateauneuf are the benchmark of Southern Rhone, but when you hunt outside near the surrounding villages you can find producers and wines that rival the quality of Chateauneuf du Pape at a fraction of the price. Today’s wine is that wine.

The wine is 2018 Caves de Gigondas L’Hallali Grande Reserve, scored 93pts from Parker’s WA, and is a knockout.  If you’ve always been intrigued by Southern Rhone and are a lover of Rhone blends from other parts of the world, this is an ideal vintage and wine for you. With our 38% Savings and a price down to $20.99 this is a great buy. The wine has the fruit concentration and richness of more “new age” reds, but still maintains its sense of place and complexities that lovers of Southern Rhone gravitate to.  Recommending a case to drink now, and a case to lay down for the next 10-15 years.