Domaine Des Bosquets Gigondas 2017

Jeb Dunnuck 93
Leading off the reds from this terrific estate, the 2017 Gigondas checks in as an unusual blend of 40 Grenache, 35 Syrah, 20 Mourvdre, and the rest Cinsault that was brought up in a mix of vessels (the Grenache is in demi-muids, the Syrah in barrel) for 18 months. Its deep purple-tinged color is followed by a great bouquet of kirsch and black raspberry fruits intermixed with lots of spicy, peppery, and garrigue. Its soft, sexy, and rounded on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness. Drink it over the coming decade or more.~J.D.

Domaine des Bosquets is a 26-hectare property that has a long history in Gigondas, first mentioned as a lieu-dit associated with viticulture in a document from 1376. Its association with the vine continued into the 17th century when the Seigneur de Laval, a local provencale aristocrat, established a farm and vineyards on the site of the current property. Some of those buildings survive there to this day. In the 19th century the estate passed through the hands of Eugene Raspail, who was the first to note the diversity of soil of Gigonda. He recognized that there are three main soil types: more fertile dark clay, rocky limestone and clay, and then blue clay mixed with marl and small areas of sand. It wasn't until 1962 that it finally ended up as part of Gabriel Meffre's constellation of properties. When he died, he passed the estate to daughter Sylvette Bréchet, as well as her son, Julien, who oversees the farming and makes the wines today.