It was a stormy day in South Florida, with blinding rain and a lot of flooding. This did not stop me and a large group of wine lovers from attending a Gigondas Master Class with Nick Jackson, Master of Wine (MW). I knew that tasting the 2016 vintage, and learning from one of the few Masters of Wine in the U.S., was an opportunity I could not pass up. (There are 414 Masters of Wine working in 31 countries. The title is considered one of the highest achievements in the wine industry.)
To begin, a representative from Les Vins de Gigondas Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) eloquently offered us a “sense of place.”
“Fine wine needs terroir, and terroir needs people. People have given an interpretation of their homeland through taste…they hope to give a brief glimpse of eternity.” ~ Henri-Claude Amadieu, Sales Manager of Pierre Amadieu
Guided Tasting
Nick Jackson guided us through six wines from different parts of the Gigondas region, which is in the southern Rhone valley. He noted that the climate attributed to the 2016 vintage was optimal for producing beautiful wines. These factors were a mild winter followed by a dry spring. Subsequently, there was a small amount of rain before harvest, which took place midsummer.
Through each of these wines, Jackson painted a picture of a beautiful and unique wine-growing area characterized by the Dentelles de Montmirail ridge to the east, Ouvèze river to the west, the Trignon mountain stream to the north, and the hills that extend outwards from the Dentelles.
Gigondas Terroir
There is something stately and mysterious about the Dentelle’s whitish-grey, jagged peaks. The Dentelles cause breezes to rise and fall, softening the peaks in temperature. Thus, vines with a west or northwest aspect are provided with the perfect airflows. This factor tempers the excessive heat typical of southern Rhône and instills Gigondas wines with smoothness and acidity, giving them excellent ageability.
As a wine student, I still have to develop a deeper understanding of terroir and how different geological factors impact the nose and taste of the wine. I gained significant insights from Jackson.
For example, he called limestone the “secret sauce” that adds structure to the wine. I now better understood why it is so important to visit the wine regions. What is in your glass becomes a teachable moment because you see, taste, and smell the air and soil that factors into the final work of art.
In Gigondas, Grenache is King
Gigondas wines must be made of at least 50 percent Grenache. Of the other grapes found in some of these wines, Syrah and Mourvèdre (and in one case, Cinsault), Jackson explained what each gave to the wine. I found it interesting to learn more about what Mourvèdre adds to the blend.
“Mourvèdre becomes mellow with age,” he said. “It needs more time for the savory tannins to settle down and integrate with the juiciness of the Grenache.”
A couple of the wines came from grapes on old vines. “Old vines mean concentrated fruit, and they are savory and herbal,” he explained.
The use of old oak rather than new for the barrels is also important. “None of these wines see new oak; therefore, you compare like-for-like [and get a] riper, sweeter, red fruit profile…Why add the sweetness (like vanilla) from oak?”
Interpretation Left Up to Us
While Jackson explained the grape blend and percentage, aging method, and terroir, he was more curious to know what we thought about each wine, rather than give his interpretation or opinion. This allowed me to freely explore what was on the nose and palate while dreaming up the perfect pairing.
Here are the Gigondas Wines from the 2016 vintage that we tried:
- Domaine du Terme
- Saint-Damien, Louisiane
- La Bastide Saint Vincent
- Maison Gabriel Meffre, Domaine de Longue Toque
- Domaine du Grapillon d’Or, Cuvée Excellence
- Domaine Raspail-Ay
Following the Master Class, guests were invited to try more wines from other Gigondas AOC producers at a walkaround tasting.
A Few Facts & Figures
- Gigondas has an 1,195-hectare area under vine.
- It produces 99 percent red wines and 1 percent rosé.
- There are 220 wine growers
- In 2021, the AOC produced 33,236 hectoliters of wine.
Learn more about the appellation and its 200+ winemakers by visiting the Gigondas website.
Find Your Sense of Place
Wine is a marvelous experience where the gifts of the earth, man’s ingenuity, and our senses meet. While I can easily dream up a fall pairing menu, any of these 2016 selections will suffice as a “curl up in front of the fireplace” wine.
It is through wine and these educational experiences that I find my “sense of place.” I hope you do too.
Thanks to Les Vins de Gigondas for the invitation to the Master Class at Ampersand Studios in Miami.
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