Famille Perrin L'Argnée Vieilles Vignes Gigondas 2018

„From a sandy parcel planted to own-rooted Grenache in the 19th century, the 2018 Gigondas L'Argnee Vieilles Vignes boasts a stunning bouquet of dusty cherries and dried flowers. This full-bodied wine has what seems like a crystalline structure and purity, yet it's silky in feel at the same time, finishing long and firm. I'm sure it will age well for at least a decade.”

With construction underway at Château de Beaucastel (those reviews are under their own heading), this year I met Marc Perrin at one of the family's properties in Gigondas—the Domaine du Clos des Tourelles. The family acquired that estate in 2008 and has substantial non-vineyard holdings in the village as well, including the local wine bar, Le Nez, and Restaurant L'Oustalet, which now has a Michelin star.

Perrin says, "For me, 2018 is a top vintage. The tannins are long and deep." He compares 2017 to 2007 for the dry weather, hot days and cool nights. Interestingly, the family is moving away from stainless steel for its red wines, using more and more concrete instead.

„An alluring style, with subtle black tea and warmed anise notes leading off, followed by silky-textured cherry and plum puree flavors. Fine-grained and stylish throughout, with a subtle mineral edge underscoring the finish. Drink now through 2032.”

„Youthful purple. Energetic, mineral-accented aromas of ripe red/dark berries, complicated by suggestions of incense and pungent flowers. Broad and fleshy on entry, then more taut on the midpalate, offering pliant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a suggestion of five-spice powder. Finishes very long and sweet, featuring slow-building tannins, a touch of smokiness and repeating red fruit character.”

„Very round and ripe, full but with good grip and palate presence. Alcohol is quite high this year, but it has good acidity and quite robust tannins to help balance. 100+-year-old pre-Phylloxera vines on sandy soil at the bottom of the village, 99% Grenache, 1% Syrah. Élévage in foudre.”

„Evasive nose, but the palate displays the hallmarks of Grenache: raspberry fruit with dry spices and a twiggy herbal note. Very early stages for this cuvée, and there will be greater fireworks in future.”

„The 2018 Gigondas L’Argnée Vieilles Vignes, which is almost 100% Grenache from pre-phylloxera vines, is a blockbuster in the making. Thrilling notes of blueberries, violets, spice box, and crushed flowers all give way to a full-bodied effort that has ultra-fine tannins, incredible elegance, and a great finish. It’s a remarkable Gigondas that’s up with the finest wines in the vintage.”

In addition to the Château de Beaucastel releases, the Perrin family also releases a bevy of brilliant wines under their Famille Perrin label. Certainly, the Gigondas releases are the standouts, yet readers shouldn’t miss their Vinsobres releases; the flagship Les Hauts De Julien possibly one of the finest Syrahs dominated blend made in the southern Rhône!

Auszeichnungen für Weingut und Winzer

14. Meininger Awards - "Weinfamilie des Jahres 2018"