Domaine des Carbonnieres Gigondas

Veronique Peysson, assisted by her father, is at the helm of the domaine, simultaneously juggling the demands of family life and the making of Gigondas, the highlight of their range. Results of the research, which her geologist brother-in-law had undertaken on the soils of Gigondas, showed that out of the seven best terroirs, her vines are grown on five of them. The Gigondas Cuvee Futee is the top cuvee and comes from the vineyards which lie at the foot of the Dentelles, on clay-limestone soils facing North and South. This Gigondas has notes of sweet black fruit and is full-bodied with well-integrated, rounded tannins and a spicy finish (12 x 75 cl)

The domaine was founded in 1905 by Gabriel Archimbaud and is now run by Maurice Vache and his two sons Jean-Michel and Frederic. The Archimbaud's and Vache's are among the longest established families in Vacqueyras. The Estate is part of a property dating back to the 12th century and belonged to 'Les Chevaliers de l'Ordre des Templiers'. Additionally, on the property sits an ancient Moorish ruin, the Tower of Sarrazine after which this wine is named. Today, this highly rated property now owns 25 hectares in Vacqueyras and 15 hectares in Gigondas. The Gigondas vineyard is very stony and low yielding while the vines are between 30 and 50 years old. The vines planted are 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre and the annual production is only 8,800 to 10,000 cases and therefore this wine is produced in limited quantities. Gigondas Tour Sarrazine is a blend of 80% Grenache with some Syrah and Mourvedre with longer ageing before release. It shows great richness with a developed flavour of spice and dried fruits, very long and supple in the mouth. (12 x 75 cl)

Domaine St Francois Xavier Gigondas from France, Rhone, Gigondas by Alliance des Vins Fins (12 x 75 cl)

Aujoux Domaine Saint Francois Xavier Gigondas from France, Rhone, Gigondas by Alliance des Vins Fins Powerful Reds (12 x 75 cl)

Domaine Gondran Gigondas Grenache Rhone from France, Rhone, Gigondas by Domaine Gondran (12 x 75 cl)

Well balanced showing good structure this deep red coloured wine is a blend dominated by Grenache with a little Mouvedre. Aromas of sweet spices abound while the roundness in mouth and dark fruit flavours make this a wine of elegance through to the finish. Montirius's 50 plus hectares are farmed bio-dynamically according to the principles laid down by Rudolf Steiner 100 years ago. Unusually for this part of the world, there is not a stick of wood in the cellar. Here all the vats are concrete becuase Christine and Eric Saurel are adamant that wood interferes with the natural, mineral character of their wines. Owing to the lack of oxidation prior to bottling, these wines take a little while to come around, but when they do, they are very serious, withlayers of complexity and richness. (12 x 75 cl)

Well balanced showing good structure this deep red coloured wine is a blend dominated by Grenache with a little Mouvedre. Aromas of sweet spices abound while the roundness in mouth and dark fruit flavours make this a wine of elegance through to the finish. Montirius's 50 plus hectares are farmed bio-dynamically according to the principles laid down by Rudolf Steiner 100 years ago. Unusually for this part of the world, there is not a stick of wood in the cellar. Here all the vats are concrete becuase Christine and Eric Saurel are adamant that wood interferes with the natural, mineral character of their wines. Owing to the lack of oxidation prior to bottling, these wines take a little while to come around, but when they do, they are very serious, withlayers of complexity and richness. (12 x 75 cl)

Domaine Gondran Gigondas from France, Rhone, Gigondas by Domaine Gondran Soft & Supple Reds (6 x 75 cl)

This 90 hectare estate in the heart of Southern Rhone was founded by André Brusset in 1947. The domaine, based in the ancient village of Cairanne, is now run by his son Daniel, and grandson Laurent, who was a winemaker. Yields are well below that required by law, and the fruit is of the highest quality. The grapes for this wine are 100% hand picked and vigorously selected for ripeness before the picking begins. The grapes are then crushed and destalked with no yeast added . The fermentations lasts for 15 days and the cap is punched down twice daily to aid the extraction of colour and tannin. The wine is then aged 60% in vats and 40% in 2 (6 x 75 cl)