B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
"Gigondas delivers some of the best bang for my buck in cellar-worthy red wines from France today."
Josh Raynolds, Vinous
A favorite producer of B-21 Rhone fans and collectors offering incredible quality at an unbeatable value, Domaine du Cayron’s 96 pt. 2020 Gigondas hits the mark once again, easily eclipsing many pricier blends from neighboring Chateauneuf-du-Pape with its bright fragrant garrigue-scented fruit and seamless tannins poised to “age reliably and gracefully” according to Vinous critic Josh Raynolds, a superb value for stocking the cellar.
Located in the heart of Gigondas in the shadow of the craggy saw-toothed Dentelles de Montmirail, fifth generation sisters Roseline, Cendrine, and Delphine source their family’s single cuvee from old vines planted at some of the appellation’s highest altitudes, the domain's name “Cayron” referring to the crest of the Dentelles. Spanning nearly 17 hectares on 20 different parcels, the Domaine’s vineyards are planted with mostly Grenache and smaller amounts of Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre on a mix of clay, marl and limestones soils, located from 300 to 400 meters above sea level with vines ranging from 40 to over 70 years of age. Employing traditional methods that are “old school all the way” according to Jeb Dunnuck, the Faraud sisters fermented the 2020 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas in subterranean concrete tanks before aging it two years in large, neutral oak foudres dating back more than 50 years, yielding plush, Grenache fruit layered on a backbone of spiced Syrah with the “downright Provençal characters that I absolutely love” according to Jeb Dunnuck, framed by fresh acidity and integrated mineral-tinged tannins on a long, polished finish.
Ranking as one of the highest rated Gigondas of the vintage while remaining a relatively little-known gem, the richly textured 96 pt. 2020 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas is “an unapologetically traditional expression of the appellation” according to critic Raynolds that will captivate fans of bold Southern Rhone reds on the first sip, remarkably bargain priced for collectors to enjoy often over the next decade or more. |