Gigondas Wine, Southern Rhone: 10 Best Bottles to Buy (2024), Winemaking

Gigondas is a French wine appellation located in Haut Vaucluse, in the Southern Rhône area of France. 

This primarily red wine region is often referred to as a little brother to the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. 

A Gigondas wine reflects its terroir through subtleties in its aromas, body, and finish. These wines have a significant tannic structure, thanks to which they can age well when stored with care. 

In this article, we’ll explore the ten magnificent Gigondas wine bottles you can buy, along with a brief look at the viticulture of the Gigondas vineyards and brilliant winemaking techniques.

Gigondas Wine: A Quick Intro to the French Grenache Blend

Gigondas wines are Grenache grape-based blends, noted for their savory tones, color intensity, and richness. These red wines have classic Southern Rhône earthy nuances and black fruit flavors. 

This French wine region’s strict appellation laws ensure that the red wine production is of high quality. 

The region can only produce red and rose wines under the Gigondas AOC. Any white wine produced here is declassified to a Côtes du Rhône status.

Under the AOC Gigondas laws, Gigondas wines are made from up to 80% Grenache. At least 15% of Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes are then added to this blend. A maximum of 10% of any other grape variety, sanctioned by the appellation laws, makes up the rest of the Gigondas wine blend. 

Gigondas wines are also easy to spot on the shelf because of the gorgeous embossed crest along the bottle’s neck. 

Let’s look at the ten best Gigondas wines you can buy today. 

10 Magnificent Gigondas Wines to Buy Today

Here are the ten best bottles of Gigondas wine to get your hands on right away:

1. 2007 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides ($389)
2. 2013 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste ($212)
3. 2007 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux ($131)
4. 2007 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Grand Grenache 66 ($97)
5. 2017 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Secrets de Montmirail ($68)
6. 1995 Domaine les Goubert Gigondas Cuvée Florence ($116)
7. Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle ($196)
8. 2014 Famille Perrin Gigondas L'Argnée Vieilles Vignes ($84)
9. 2017 Kirkland Signature Gigondas ($16)
10. 2017 Vignobles Yves Cheron Gigondas Jurassique ($32)

1. 2007 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides ($389)

This red wine has aromas of graphite and crushed rocks, accompanied by flavors of assorted red fruit, dark fruit, and licorice.  

2. 2013 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste ($212)

Here we have a red wine with aromas of earth, forest, and cherries. This great wine tastes of spice, pepper, dark fruit, and red currant.

3. 2007 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux ($131)

Here’s a full-bodied red wine by Louis Barruol with complex garrigue, spring flowers, and black cherry notes. The aromas are accompanied by dry-aged beef and dark fruit flavors. 

4. 2007 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Grand Grenache 66 ($97)

This inky purple red wine has classic Southern Rhône forest floor notes. On the palate, the wine has kirsch and dark fruit flavors. 

5. 2017 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Secrets de Montmirail ($68)

Here’s a red wine with aromas of peppery garrigue and licorice. Its chocolate tasting note is enhanced with dark fruit, ripe plum, and sage flavors. 

6. 1995 Domaine les Goubert Gigondas Cuvée Florence ($116)

With aromas of cedar, tobacco smoke, and dried fruit, this red wine features red currant, cedar, and black cherry flavors. 

7. 2007 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle ($196)

This 2007 red wine has black tea and black cherry aromas, accompanied by raspberry and ripe fig fruit flavors.

8. 2014 Famille Perrin Gigondas L'Argnée Vieilles Vignes ($84)

The Gigondas Vieilles Vignes wine has smoked bacon and leather aroma notes. The wine also features red fruit, plum, and blackberry flavors.

9. 2017 Kirkland Signature Gigondas ($16)

This red wine has spicy leather aromas, accompanied by flavors of spice, cherry, and blueberry.

10. 2017 Vignobles Yves Cheron Gigondas Jurassique ($32)

The 2017 Yves Cheron has a nose of vanilla, oak, and cedar. It features dark fruit, plum, spice, and cherry flavors on the palate. 

A Few Interesting Facts About Gigondas Wines 

Here are some interesting insights into Gigondas wines:

How much alcohol does a bottle of Gigondas wine have?

A bottle of Gigondas wine has an alcohol content of around 14-15% ABV. 

What food pairs best with a Gigondas wine?

Since Gigondas wines have round tannins and bright acidity, they pair best with hearty foods, such as casseroles, meaty stews, braised dishes, lamb shanks, burgers, roast chicken, and sausages. 

What is the aging potential of a Gigondas wine?

Gigondas wines have great cellaring potential and can be aged for 5-20 years. Aging these red wines softens the tannins and makes them more drinkable.

Let’s now briefly discuss the iconic winemaking process and vineyards of Gigondas. 

Gigondas Vineyards: Climate and Viticulture

The Gigondas village is surrounded by a large mountain range in the Southern Rhône Valley. Some of the finest wine is produced on the slopes of Mont Ventoux, the largest mountain in the region. 

The climate in the Southern Rhône Valley is Mediterranean and warm, very similar to the climate in Châteauneuf. The soil type is almost always red clay, with some limestone deposits on the top of the hills. 

These Mediterranean conditions are perfect for cultivating noble grapes like Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. 

In addition to this factor, the maximum yield permitted for the Gigondas AOC is one of the lowest in France (36 hectoliters per hectare), contributing to the excellent quality of Gigondas wines. 

Gigondas wine producers are also required to select healthy grapes over imperfect ones. This process is known as triage in French and is one of the mandatory quality measures taken while producing Gigondas wines. 

Gigondas Winemaking: A Brilliant and Perfected Art 

Each winemaker in Gigondas carefully crafts their finest wine in a unique way. 

• Fermenting: While some producers vinify each grape variety separately, others ferment the grapes together. Depending on the vintage and the winemaker, the maceration period lasts 2-4 weeks.

• Aging: Gigondas wines are aged in stainless steel to preserve their fruit profile. The wines are then aged in wooden vats and oak barrels to finesse their tannins. 

• Bottling: The wines are only bottled after achieving a well-balanced and generous flavor.

Add a Stunning Bottle of Gigondas Wine to Your Collection!

Gigondas wines offer a brilliant sipping experience with their distinctive notes of savory, earthy, and herbal aromas. These well-balanced wines, with a defining acidity and smooth tannins, leave you wanting more!

If you’re a wine lover looking to add investment and age-worthy wine to your collection, check out Vinovest. 

Vinovest can help you get the best Gigondas wine and other fine wines for your collection. This AI-based wine investment platform will help you easily source, store and sell your fine wines.