Coming from a tiny 1.5-hectare portion of clay and limestone soils and all old vine Grenache, the 2018 Gigondas La Colline is another gorgeous wine from this estate that strikes a balance between richness and elegance. More ruby-hued (these wines are never the deepest hued in Gigondas) and with a killer perfume of kirsch liqueur, framboise, herbes de Provence, chocolate, roasted herbs, and chalky minerality, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a gorgeous, heady finish. This cuv?e is almost always the more powerful and concentrated in the lineup, yet in 2018 it shows the more elegant, seamless style of the vintage beautifully. It?s going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and drink fabulous well for a decade.

Salty, chalky mineral notes lend a cutting edge to sun-drenched black-cherry and plum flavors in this wine. Sourced from 50-year-old vines planted in a high-altitude vineyard abutting the Dentelles de Montmirail, it’s decadently rich and concentrated but scintillating and fresh. Still approaching peak, it should drink beautifully from 2022 and improve well through 2030.

Deep, brilliant ruby-red. A hugely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red berries, baking spices, garrigue and incense. A smoky mineral element builds steadily in the glass. Smooth and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining raspberry, cherry-cola, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that convey a suave marriage of depth and energy. Finishes spicy, gently tannic and extremely long, leaving lingering notes of juicy red berries, five-spice powder and candied lavender behind.

The exquisitely perfumed and intricately detailed 2018 Gigondas La Colline—100% Grenache from the highest part of the estate and limestone soils—is one of those wines I'd be happy to sit and smell all night. Revealing Campari-like spice complexity against a backdrop of cherries and raspberries, it's full-bodied yet never seems heavy or overdone, with a seductive, silky feel on the palate and a lingering, licorice-laced finish.

This shows a perfumy side, with silky-edged plum and black currant puree flavors swirling through with black tea and incense hints, ending with a long, focused and understated finish. A beguiling example of Gigondas. Best from 2021 through 2033. 390 cases made, 30 cases imported.

This is nicely inlaid with subtle cedar and pine needle spice. It’s very full, rounded, expansive and broad on the palate. Acidity is well-integrated, as is the oak. Remarkably tannic, they have good grip, but full ripeness. Alcohol is a touch warming, but this is good. Showing a touch of reduction at time of tasting but should pass. 1.5ha plot of very old vine Grenache in organic conversion, on blue marl and limestone soils at 350m altitude. 20% whole bunch, matured for 18 months in old demi-muids.