Hi-Time's Top Red Wines from France
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "The 2022 Gigondas La Louisiane is another gem from this estate. Wild strawberries, ripe cherries, peppery garrigue and floral notes all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, supple mouthfeel, polished tannins, and no hard edges."
"A layered, mouth-filling texture and a great finish. This broad, expansive, sexy Gigondas will shine right out of the gate. These are brilliant, layered, textured Gigondas that represent insane values"
WINE ADVOCATE 93-95 POINTS - "As in most vintages, there's a distinctive floral scent in the nose of the 2022 Gigondas La Louisiane. It's rose-like, adding a lovely flourish to the black cherries and black raspberries that form the core of this full-bodied effort. It's silky, ripe and long, with a hint of licorice on the finish. This fine estate, located on the flatter, lower-lying portion of the appellation, benefits from the Saurel family's meticulous farming and old vines. Romain Saurel, is now (fully?) in charge, but his parents are never far off. Most of the wines mature in foudres, with some lots going into concrete, and only the Clovis Saurel luxury cuvée going into demi-muids. From the 2022 vintage, I tasted a small cuvée of pure Clairette, which has the potential to be bottled as a Gigondas Blanc in future vintages. Barrel fermented in Chassin, it's one to watch going forward."
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "The 2022 Gigondas La Louisiane is another gem from this estate. Wild strawberries, ripe cherries, peppery garrigue and floral notes all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, supple mouthfeel, polished tannins, and no hard edges."
"A layered, mouth-filling texture and a great finish. This broad, expansive, sexy Gigondas will shine right out of the gate. These are brilliant, layered, textured Gigondas that represent insane values"
WINE ADVOCATE 93-95 POINTS - "As in most vintages, there's a distinctive floral scent in the nose of the 2022 Gigondas La Louisiane. It's rose-like, adding a lovely flourish to the black cherries and black raspberries that form the core of this full-bodied effort. It's silky, ripe and long, with a hint of licorice on the finish. This fine estate, located on the flatter, lower-lying portion of the appellation, benefits from the Saurel family's meticulous farming and old vines. Romain Saurel, is now (fully?) in charge, but his parents are never far off. Most of the wines mature in foudres, with some lots going into concrete, and only the Clovis Saurel luxury cuvée going into demi-muids. From the 2022 vintage, I tasted a small cuvée of pure Clairette, which has the potential to be bottled as a Gigondas Blanc in future vintages. Barrel fermented in Chassin, it's one to watch going forward."
