Brilliant ruby-red. Ripe, smoke-tinged red fruits, musky earth and lavender notes are present on the expansive nose. Juicy, mineral-accented black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show fine clarity and turn sweeter with aeration. The impressively long, gently tannic finish features resonating floral and red berry notes. A spicy jolt of white pepper adds final lift and cut.

The 2020 Gigondas Les Hauts De Montmirail is more classic Gigondas with its spicy red and black fruits, peppery garrigue, and chalky mineral aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and just incredibly elegant, it shows the forward, balanced, satisfying style of the vintage perfectly. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years. This cuvée is the usual 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre, from a terraced vineyard of limestone soils, that was destemmed and raised in 50% new French oak.