Xavier Vins 2010 Gigondas - 88pts

Xavier Vins 2010 Gigondas (Southern Rhone) France

Availability: Limited. Private wine shops
Cost: $32-36
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: December 7th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Overall, great continuity from the excellent 2009 edition is on offer here, though, the intensity on the nose and palate is simply dialled down, resulting in a paler version of the spicy garrigue, herbs cedar and dried berry fruit Gigondas blend. Masculine from beginning to end with mineral notes throughout and meaty, well-structured tannins. Should hold well for another 3-4 years.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Xavier Vins 2009 Gigondas - 90pts

Xavier Vins 2009 Gigondas (Southern Rhone) France

Availability: Limited. Private wine shops
Cost: $32-36
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: September 13th, 2013

Tasting Notes: A masculine Gigondas with spicy garrigue, cedar, dried plum, berry fruit and loads of river stone mineral aromas. The mouth-watering, concentrated, dry palate offers a generous blend of fleshy, berry fruits and savoury, herbal flavours supported by well-structured, mannered tannins with the continuity of mineral notes from the nose.

Gigondas, from the wine buyer's expectations perspective, should fit somewhere between quality Côtes du Rhône and entry-level Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the Xavier offering fits the bill. Better structure and balance than CDR, without the complexity or price tag of CDP.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca