Discovering a wine like this is the best part of my job. We sought out and tasted wines from the famous and respected Southern Rhone appellation of Gigondas for several years before unearthing this gem at La Font de Notre Dame. I had managed to find other wines from Gigondas whose flavors had me at hello, but their prices always had me saying a hasty goodbye.
When I first visited the family domaine of Font de Notre Dame in Gigondas, I tasted with Jean-Pierre, who owns the Domaine together with his cousin Claude. Jean-Pierre told me that the previous weekend, in a winemaking contest for the appellation, their 2011 Gigondas had come in second place. I asked who took third. With a grin, he named the wine he had bested. I knew the name - it costs three times what his does.
The La Font de Notre Dame Gigondas is 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah. There is modest oak treatment for this wine. A scant quarter of the wine in this cuvee is raised in oak barrels, of which only 15% are new.
The vines are grown at a higher altitude than other wines in the area - a major boon in this age of global warming. The extra altitude means these vines are treated to cooler nights, a necessity for retaining the proper acidity in the grapes.
My tasting notes are full of praise for the bright red fruit, the chocolate, the wonderful acidity, the well-balanced power, roundness and richness I found in the La Font de Notre Dame Gigondas. It's a wine to get enthusiastic about. The decision was easy: at last, I had my ideal Gigondas and I went home happy.
The wine was a hit. Even I was surprised by how quickly it sold out. I was able to secure a second shipment from the Domaine which held us for a while, but eventually that sold out too and we had to wait for Claude and Jean-Pierre to finish crafting the next vintage.
Are you ready for some great news? The new vintage is here! La Font de Notre Dame Gigondas 2013 has arrived and I tell you it is fantastic!
And I'm not the only professional wine lover bursting with enthusiasm for this wine. Read this from Josh Raynolds:
"Ruby-red. Dark berries, dried cherry, licorice and black pepper on the nose. Slightly clenched on entry, opening up slowly to offer bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors and a hint of succulent herbs. Dusty tannins contribute grip the finish, with the licorice and pepper notes echoing. Rated (88-90)" - Josh Raynolds, Vinous
This wine is exactly what I desire from a Gigondas. There's not much else to say. My hat is off, my glass is full of La Font de Notre Dame Gigondas 2013, and I raise it to Claude and Jean Pierre Roux. Salut et felicitations!
This La Font de Notre Dame Gigondas 2013 is not to be missed. You'll look forward to each bottle and each sip. Snag your case and savor it.
-Margot Hurley, Cynthia Hurley French Wines
TO ORDER:
Simply reply to this email or call the store at 781-934-2033. The wine is not yet in the store (we don't have the room!), it will be ordered for you and we'll give you a call when it arrives in about a week. The minimum purchase is a 12-bottle case. We are happy to deliver your case within Duxbury free of charge.
