" Beautiful finesse and maturity of the berries for this magnificent 2016 vintage, which develops aromas of licorice, tobacco, and precious wood on the nose. The palate is slightly animalistic and lively, full of energy, with a pleasant and persistent leather finish." (Le Guide des Vins Bettane & Desseauve) Historic plots of the estate!
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Eye
Deep purple
Nose
Powerful and spicy, with notes of ripe red and black berries, licorice, and tobacco.
Mouth
Structured by fleshy tannins, spices, pleasant freshness, a finish of licorice on tobacco and leather notes.
Serve
At 16-18°C
Open
To decant
Drink before
2030
Food and wine pairings
Pairs well with slow-cooked dishes in sauce, wild boar stew, venison, hare stew...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated 16.5/20 (Reference wine)
Rated estate (2025 guide) 3 stars (High-quality production, serving as a benchmark in its sector)
About wine:
This magnificent 2016 vintage displays beautiful finesse and maturity, developing aromas of licorice, tobacco, and precious wood on the nose. The palate is slightly animalistic and lively, bursting with energy, and the finish is pleasant and persistent with leather notes.
About the estate:
Benjamin Gras follows in the footsteps of his father Yves and, with the same talent, crafts a range of deep and elegant single-vineyard wines, where the purity of the fruit reflects a true obsession. A refined style, in which the wines sacrifice a little generosity and concentration in favor of a very pure delicacy. In Gigondas as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the wines have a distinctive style that will leave no one indifferent.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rated (2018 guide) 95-97/100 (Extraordinary wine)
Rated estate (2024 guide) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About wine:
Garrigue in bloom, black cherries, and licorice are all present in this 2016 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues. Full-bodied, rich, velvety, and intense without being overpowering, this is a superb wine with the balance, grace, and charm of Disney's Fantasia ballet-dancing hippopotamus. And the finish is long, really long.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated estate (2025 guide) 1*Star (Up-and-coming stars or quality winemakers producing good wines; you won't be disappointed when tasting the wines from these estates)
About the estate:
Yves Gras took over this iconic Gigondas estate in 1985. He introduced a full-bodied, fleshy style that was not lacking in finesse, and international recognition was immediate. Several projects enriched the estate: the restoration of Clos Derrière Vieille in 1994; and the acquisition of beautiful terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2009: Saintes Pierres, La Crau Ouest, Le Pied de Baud, Les Pradel, and La Font du Pape. In 2017, the arrival of Benjamin, the son, brought a new dynamic and a change in style. The wines still display the same breed and power, but now have more infused textures. They offer a diffuse power on the palate and more graceful tactile sensations. The woody notes are also better integrated. The estate is biodynamic, the wines are made with indigenous yeasts, whole bunches are used in part, and the wines are not filtered before bottling. The uniqueness of each cuvée led us to award the estate its first star as soon as it was included in the guide.
Jancis Robinson
Wine rated 17+/20
Vinous
Rated estate (2024 guide) Recommended
Jeb Dunnuck
Wine rated 95+/100
Rated estate (2024 guide) Recommended
Customer rating
4.3/5
based on 6 reviews
Note and opinion by Mr. JACQUES R. Published on 04/24/2020
From the moment you open it, you know something special is about to happen! What follows is a celebration, a demonstration of power, aromas, and the winemaker's expertise. Truly superb, at the very highest level of Gigondas.
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Note and opinion by Mr. PENG W. Published on 07/06/2024
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Review and opinion by Mr. MARTIN G. Published on 04/02/2021
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Note and opinion by Mr. CHRISTIAN M. Published on 10/10/2020
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Note and opinion by Mr. PIERRE-THOMAS G. Published on July 10, 2020
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Review and opinion by Mr. FABIEN F. Published on 05/13/2020
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