Floral and light in style, but with loads of fruit and a distinctive minerality is the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2005 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes. Gigondas is perhaps the biggest pig-in-a-poke appellation of the southern Rhone and that’s a shame since there are more splendid terroirs than splendid producers to be found there. Tardieu-Laurent has obviously sourced the grapes/wine that went into this cuvee from top-notch people. This is a beauty to drink over the next decade. Michel Tardieu, who has exceptional knowledge about some of the finest vineyards and grape sources in both the northern and southern Rhone, utilizes the consulting services of renowned oenologist Philippe Cambie. The southern cuvees in 2005 were all very strong. These wines are generally aged in small, new oak barrels but with the Grenache cuvees kept in less new oak. Certainly they can show some new oak early in their life, but experience has taught me that after 4-5 years they become well-integrated in the richer, riper years.Importers: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808, Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029 and William-Harrison Imports, Inc. Manassas, Virginia 20109 (tel) (703) 815-9463.

Ultramodern, with very suave mocha- and spice-filled toast leading the way for lush raspberry, boysenberry, licorice and graphite notes. The long finish lets the minerality blaze while still pumping out the fruit in spades. Drink now through 2013. 450 cases made, 53 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Southern Rh?ne / Gigondas Select to Add