Domaine des Bosquets Le Plateau Gigondas 2020

„The nearly 100-year-old Mourvèdre vines cropped a mere 10 hectoliters per hectare for the 2019 Gigondas Le Plateau, meaning there are just three demi-muids. It's a powerful, richly tannic version of this wine, full-bodied but not inelegant, marrying plummy fruit with spicy complexities reminiscent of tree bark, star anise, clove and more. While reasonably open as a barrel sample, I suspect it will close down and require several years of aging after release yet be capable of drinking well for two decades.“

„Dark and solidly built, with a stylish mix of cassis, blackberry and damson plum all edged in graphite. Savory acidity courses throughout, and black pepper, tar and smoke make this more savory than sweet; still-tight tannins will soften with time. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Clairette. Best from 2030 through 2030. 180 cases made,”

„Earthy liquorice note to the red berry fruit and a touch of blackberry. I like the vibrancy, the intensity. Tannins are fairly low, but enjoyably textural, a little grainy perhaps, and the alcohol is fairly high. A good wine, that may well improve and show better after some time in bottle. Le Plateau is a single vineyard selection of old-vine Mourvèdre planted at high altitude in 1922, on blue marl and limestone, exposed north. Aged for 18 months in demi-muids.”

„Tasted blind. Intense nose with bags of character. Dense dark fruits alongside crushed dark fruits and sandalwood with very firm tannins. Mocha-infused mid-palate and earthy smoke. Powerful deep and earthy stuff.“

„Powerful and piercing, this concentrated, inky red is a focused study of Mourvèdre (augmented by small percentages of Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Counoise, and Clairette). Sourced from a high-altitude, north-facing site, it juxtaposes rich cassis and black-cherry flavors against sharp angularity, spice and herbaceousness. Co-fermented in 100% whole clusters, this vibrant wine should drink at peak now through 2030 and hold further.”

„The 2020 Gigondas Le Plateau comes from a single plot as well and is 100% Mourvèdre that’s vinified and aged in demi-muids. Awesome Mourvèdre notes of meaty red, blue, and black fruits as well as ground pepper, spice, and floral notes define this beauty, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a classic, nicely structured, focused mouthfeel, ripe yet present tannins, and a great finish.”