Tar, oak and liquorice nos. Modern palate with a sweet core of plum fruit and oaky length. Will become more complex from 2016.

January 2012:
Saturated ruby. Aromas of cherry compote, dark berries and licorice, with hints of lavender and star anise building with air. Fleshy and sweet on entry, then firmer in the mid-palate, offering intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. Dusty tannins add shape and grip to the clinging finish.

January 2011:
Bright purple. Intense black cherry, boysenberry and licorice aromas are lifted by an alluring floral element. Strongly perfumed and velvety in texture, offering assertive flavors of red and dark berry preserves, spicecake and succulent herbs. Finishes sweet and long, with excellent clarity.

January 2012:
Glass-staining ruby. Sexy aromas of candied dark berries, potpourri and mocha, with a spicy overtone. Juicy, penetrating and impressively lithe on the palate, offering an array of seamless dark berry and spice flavors. Closes on a refreshingly bitter licorice note, with lingering sweetness and very good persistence.

January 2011:
Opaque purple. Seductively perfumed bouquet of black raspberry, star anise, lavender and minerals. Very fresh and seductively sweet, featuring dark fruit flavors that gain spiciness with air. Plush and expansive Gigondas with strong finishing thrust and lingering sweetness.

January 2012:
Opaque purple. Powerful aromas of cherry-vanilla, mocha and cola, with an intense floral overtone. Lush, creamy and sweet, offering broad, oak-spiced dark fruit flavors. The finish is smoky, spicy and very long. Carrying a lot of oak right now but I'll bet that the fruit is up to it--or will be in a few years.

January 2011: Inky purple. Intensely perfumed bouquet of dark berries, toasty oak, garrigue and minerals. Lively blackberry and cherry flavors are underscored by smoky minerality, picking up deeper notes of licorice and mocha in the middle palate. Leaves a trail of juicy dark fruits and spices behind on the persistent, energetic finish.

Bright purple. Explosive scents of raspberry, incense, lavender and exotic spices. Sweet, palate-coating red fruit flavors show excellent depth and energy, with suggestions of candied flowers and allspice adding complexity. The spicy quality carries through the long, sappy, precise finish. There are tannins here but they're hidden beneath the fruit for now.

Opaque ruby. Exotic aromas of cherry-vanilla, dark berries, cola and lavender. Lush and creamy in texture, offering sweet dark fruit compote flavors and a good dose of oak spice. The floral quality comes back on the finish, which clings with impressive tenacity and length. Quite modern in style but there's plenty of material here.

Bright violet color. Pungent dark fruits and herbs on the fragrant nose. The palate offers deep black and blue fruit and vanilla flavors complicated by licorice and black tea, with a smoky quality emerging with air. Finishes tangy and long, with sneaky sweetness and very good clarity.

Orange-tinged pink. Highly fragrant bouquet evokes fresh red berries, spicecake and lavender. Juicy and focused, with good energy and bite to its tangy strawberry and raspberry flavors. Closes on a juicy note, with very good fruit-driven persistence.

Vivid ruby. Spicy blackberry, cherry and woodsmoke aromas show very good intensity. Fleshy, sweet and concentrated, with a supple texture to the creamy dark berry flavors. Shows a distinct note of lavender pastille on the impressively long, juicy finish.

Blackish crimson and then sweet and light. Very round fruit with tannins not really in evidence (unlike the alcohol) until the very end. Just a little bit drying on the end but there is lots of satisfaction here.

Mid crimson. Quite a bit of aromatic development. Very rich and dense and flattering without as much freshness as most other wines from this appellation. Drying finish.

The 2010 Gigondas Romane Machotte reveals more elegant red currant characteristics intermixed with licorice, incense, Christmas fruitcake and foresty notes. This medium to full-bodied, stylish red could easily be confused with a top notch Pinot Noir in a blind tasting. Consume it over the next decade.

There is some toasty new oak in the 2010 Domaine Grand Romane Prestige Vieilles Vignes's nose, but it did not distract from the abundant notes of spring flowers, red and black fruits, foret floor and earth. Deep, full bodied, rich and primary with higher acids and lower alcohol than the 2009, it should drink well for 10-12 years.

Unlike the 2009, the 2010 Gigondas le Pas de l'Aigle performed exceptionally well and may have been the strongest effort in this line-up. Its blue/purple color is accompanied by scents of blueberries, camphor, burning embers and forest floor. Full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it should drink well for 10-15 years.

SMART BUYS
Forward and fleshy, with lovely layered blackberry compote, plum sauce and braised fig notes backed by integrated tobacco and anise on the finish. Drink now.

Rich and fleshy, with a solid core of blackberry, steeped black currant and roasted plum fruit. A dark anise note provides underlying grip through the roasted chestnut-tinged finish. Very solid. A bit old-school. Drink now through 2015.-JM

The 2010 Pierre Amadieu Gigondas Rosé Romane Machotte is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsaukt, and 20% Syrah, made via the saignée method, and aged 4 months in stainless steel on lees. It shows a light salmon color as well as beautiful, poise and freshness on the nose. Solid minerality comes out more with air, and this medium to light bodied beauty has crisp acidity and a length finish. An outstanding rosé!

Displaying slightly modern yet pure personality, with perfumed aromas of sweet red fruits, crushed flowers, underbrush, and spice cake on the nose, this fresh and elegant Gigondas possesses a medium to full-bodied, silky texture, superb purity of fruit, and fine tannin on the finish. It's approachable now, but should upwards of a decade of prime drinking.

The 2009 Pierre Amadieu Gigondas Domaine Grand Romane is a pretty, fresh wine that display perfumed raspberry, cherry, flowers, and a subtle garrigue aromas, a medium to full-bodied, balanced feel, good richness, and plenty of length. Very well done, this outstanding Gigondas should drink nicely for up to a decade.

Showing even better than a year ago, the 2007 Pierre Amadieu Pas de l'Aigle, 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah aged 24 months in 20% barrel and the rest incask, delivers a spectacular array of blackberry, lavender, sweet spice, garrigue, and leather, to go with a fullbodied, fleshy, round palate. This hedonistic, beautifully done Gigondas should continue to shine for another 8-10 years.

The 2009 Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras La Grangelière is a selection of 45-year-old vins and a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that's aged 8 months in 60% tank and 40% 2-year-old barrels. It exhibits a voluptuous, round profile with exuberant black cherry, roasted herbs, and ground stone qualities to go with a medium to full-bodied, rich mid-palate, moads of ripeness, and a good finish. It should drink nicely for 5-8 years, if not upwards of a decade.

A blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah that's aged all in concrete, the 2009 Pierre Amadieu Côtes du Rhône Roulepierre is a meaty, peppery Côtes du Rhône that yields crunchy black fruits, loads of minerality, sage, and touch of black olive on the nose. This is followed up by a medium bodied, very fresh, pure wine that builds on the palate, delivering juicy acidity, a smooth mid-palate, and a long, poxerful finish. A rocking value, this shoould evolve for a year ot two, and have a 5-8 year drink window. Well done and those that like a traditional, fresh Côtes du Rhône should check this wine out.

A beautiful wine that oozes Provencal character, the 2009 Pierre Amadieu Ventoux La Claretiere exhibits perfumed aromas of sweet red fruits, loads of garrigue, mineral, and resiny like notes on the nose. This is followed bys a decidedly gulpable, delicious wine that's medium bodied, very well balanced, and possesses a satiny, rustic texture that carries the long finish. A perfect example of the AOC, this shouls dish out plenty of pleasure over the coming 2-4 years.

Ripe and focused, offering solid notes of dark currant, melted black licorice and plum sauce, backed by a nicely grippy edge on the finish. Drink now through 2013.

Fleshy and mouthfilling, with plum, boysenberry and linzer torte flavours coursing through, laced with notes of licorice and fruitcake. The slightly grippy finish lets tar and raisin hints hang on. Drink now through 2012.

Nice, tightly-grained version, with sleek cherry sauce, raspberry and red currant fruit woven with violet and mineral notes. Stays taut and racy on the finish. Drink now through 2012.

A juicy, slightly old-school style, with bittersweet cocoa, chestnut and tobacco hints weaving through the fleshy raspberry, black¬berry and plum sauce flavors. The solid structure is nicely embed¬ded on the finish. Drink now through 2017

Avis aux randonneurs, la balade jusqu'au Pas de l'Aigle, entre Dentelles de Montmirail et Crête du Saint Amand vaut le detour ; l'occasion d'admirer les coteaux plantés de vieilles vignes du domaine, avant de découvrir dans le verre ce que peut donner une selection parcellaire rigoureuse. La robe est sombre, Presque noire. Le passage en fût (en partie neuf) n'a pas échappé aux dégustateurs. Des notesde torréfaction et de caramel, puis d'épices et de cuir imprègnent le nez. Une petite aeration libère les fruits, rouges et noirs. Puissante, struturée, fortement concentre, la bouche, encore bien boisée, est adoucie par une élégante sucrosité. Un potential de garde remarquable, au moins quatre ou cinq ans.

Un 2008 qui fait la part belle au grenache (75% pour 25% de syrah). Le nez évoque les fruits à l'alcool accompagnés de notes d'élevage et de champignon. La bouche est assez représentative du millésime : moins de compléxité et de concentration, mais plus d'élégance et de souplesse, avec une dominante de fruits rouges.

Vivid ruby. Lively red fruits and minerals on the nose, with hints of white pepper, potpourri and allspice adding complexity. Nervy, focused strawberry and raspberry flavors give way to a deeper cherry quality with air. A silky and seamless wine with excellent finishing thrust and lingering spiciness.

Dark crimson. Gamey, sweet nose. Concentrated and velvety textured. Really very  luscious. Yet not too alcoholic. Long and rich and pure pleasure – tannins well hidden. Truly sumptuous.

Very dark, polished crimson. Very vibrant, meaty and savoury. Less obviously sweet than some but clearly of real interest. Juicy with all the elements there but the fresh tannins still need some resolution. Great balance even if not one of the densest. Very promising..

Dark crimson. Heady and lifted – lots of alcohol! Lacks a little freshness and the tannins are very forceful! Not gracious but big, burly and uninhibited. No lack of grunt here...

Looks a bit of a simple ruby. Pale rim. A sort of vegy lift to this wine – and some fennel. Attractive easy sweetness. Medium bodied. Super friendly. The fruit definitely triumphs over the tannins (which are there actually, only very much in the background). Nicely made wine for the short to medium term. A hint of maraschino.

A blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 15% Syrah from 50-year-old vines, the seriously concentrated 2009 Gigondas Grand Romane Cuvee Prestige Vieilles Vignes boasts a dense purple color as well as an impressive bouquet of blackberries, black currants, licorice, camphor and forest floor. Long and deep with a full-bodied texture and outstanding purity and length, it should be drunk over the next decade.

October 2011-
Even more corpulent and opulent, the 2009 Gigondas Grand Romane's dense purple color is followed by notes of charchoal, blackberries, cassis, camphor and forest floor. Full-bodied, thick and juicy with unctuosity as well as loads of glycerin, this is a serious, nearly over-the-top Gigondas to drink over the next 10-12 years.

The 2009 Gigondas Romane Machotte is produced from a 150-acre estate planted with 35- to 40-year-old vines. The final blend is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah aged in small and moderately sized barrels. It offers up attractive scents of balsam wood, soy, black cherries, garrigue, pepper and subtle spicy oak. Medium to full-bodied and round with silky tannins as well as a front-end loaded, rich style, it begs for consumption over the next 5-7 years.

October 2011 -
The 2009 Gigondas Romane Machotte exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue along with notes of black pepper, soy sauce, sweet cherries, garrigue and lavender. It is an attractive, layered, full-bodied Gigondas to drink over the next 7-10 years.

Forward, featuring good blackberry, black cherry and maduro tobacco notes, backed by a light tarry edge on the finish. Drink now.

This offers a ripe, plump core of mulled spice, melted black licorice and dark plum and blackberry fruit, all mingling together through the toast-framed finish. Drink now.

Jan 2011
Vivid ruby. Attractive aromas of red and dark berry preserves, dried flowers and smoky minerals. Sappy and seamless on the palate, offering gently sweet black raspberry and cherry flavors and a touch of bitter licorice. The mineral note comes back on the spicy, persistent finish. This will drink well early.

Feb 2010
Deep ruby color. Pungent aromas of black raspberry and spicecake. Musky, penetrating red and dark berry flavors are framed by supple tannins and become sweeter with aeration, picking up a zesty minerality. Smoothly blends richness and vivacity and finishes with very good clarity and lingering sweetness.

Jan 2011
Bright purple. Oak-spiced cherry and dark berries on the nose, with complicating notes of mocha and candied licorice. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering sweet dark fruit flavors and a slow-building vanilla quality. Impressively deep for the vintage. Finishes sweet, expansive and very long.

Feb 2010
Vivid purple. Black and blue fruits on the nose, with complicating notes of five-spice powder and sassafras. Lively, finely etched cherry and blackberry flavors are framed by supple tannins. Blueberry and cassis notes linger on the persistent, sweet, smoky finish. Deeper than the Romane-Machotte and in need of more patience.

Glass-staining ruby. Black raspberry and kirsch on the nose, with anise and lavender pastille nuances adding complexity. Juicy, energetic dark fruit flavours are given spine by juicy acidity. The chewy tannins fade away on the finish, which leaves sweet floral pastille, cola and berry notes behind. This is a blend of 75% grenache and 25% syrah.

Deep purple crimson. Very bright. Lively and fresh and tarry - very dense. Serious tight stuff with no excess of acidity and tannins set for the long term. Quite unusual in the context of 2008.

Blueish purple. Very polished nose. Sweet, with a foxglove nose – not for purists but this is a wine that a lot of effort has gone into to tame it. Wait a while and it may surprise those with a prejudice against 2008s. Just not porty.

Brownish crimson. Simple herby fruits - not trying too hard. Very opulent and sweet. Easy stuff - and actually very like a competent Châteauneuf. It fills the mouth with fruit and spice. Neat finish, not too dry. Quite appetising. But a bit light overall. Drink 2011-15

The 2007 Gigondas Romane Machotte is a big, spicy, classic Provencal wine offering lots of garrigue, pepper, spice box, forest floor, underbrush, and black cherry characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, deep, round, and generous, it is ideal for drinking over the next 6-7 years.

A brilliant wine, the 2007 Gigondas Grande Reserve exhibits a more saturated ruby/purple color as well as a sweet perfume of creosote, ground pepper, incense, black currants, cherries, and loamy soil undertones. This deep, full-bodied, powerful Gigondas is a candidate for 10 years of delicious drinking.

The most limited offering, the 2007 Gigondas Grand Romane Cuvee Prestige Vieilles Vignes, is a top-flight effort. Its dense plum/purple color is followed by a sweet bouquet of licorice, garrigue, black and red fruits, pepper, spice, and toasty oak. Broad, savory, and full-bodied with outstanding concentration, purity, and texture, its tannins and oak component suggest 1-2 years of bottle age will be beneficial. It should keep for 12-15+ years.

This shows a dark profile, with roasted fig and plum fruit laced with mesquite and applewood notes. Long and fleshy, with lots of cedar, licorice and sweet earth echoing through the coffee-tinged finish. Best from 2010 through 2023.

Very attractive Southern wine in its temperament, « en dentelle » with perfumes of garrigue. Very beautiful complexity also in mouth combining very present fruit in this wine full of energy which asserts itself with many relief.
Among Wines noted between 15,5 and 17,5 on 20

Juicy and ripe, with a solid core of blackberry, fig and black currant fruit backed by hints of iron and mesquite. Plump and forward, but with stuffing to cellar short term. Drink through 2011.

Vivid purple. Complex, perfumed bouquet of red and dark berries, incense and smoky minerals. Gentle red fruit flavors are seamless and alluringly sweet, with hints of anise and sassafras adding complexity. The red berry note repeats on the nicely focused finish.

Jan 2010 : 91/100
Bright purple. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of black raspberry, lavender, rose and white pepper. Silky and open-knit, with palate-coating flavors of sweet red fruits complemented by spicecake and candied flowers. Drinking very well right now, with no rough edges and a long, sappy finish.

Dark purple color. A complex bouquet evokes dark berries, iron, graphite and cola, with suave floral notes expanding in the glass. Cassis and bitter cherry flavours are complicated by olive, herbs and a hint of sweet vanilla. Sweet boysenberry and cherry flavours linger impressively on the long, sappy finish.

Jan 2010 : 93/100
Opaque purple. Explosively perfumed aromas of dark berry compote and cherry liqueur complicated by potpourri and spicecake, with a smoky undertone. Broad, palate-staining blackberry and cherry-cola flavors are framed by supple tannins and become spicier on the back half. A subtle note of vanilla adds sweetness to the long, penetrating finish. Very sexy now but built to age.

Inky purple. Deep, complex aromas of smoked meat, dark berries and garrigue; really showing the syrah today. Pliant cassis and blueberry flavours are enlivened by zesty spices and framed by slow-mounting tannins. Juicy and focused on the finish, with lingering blueberry flavour. This will reward cellaring.

Opaque purple. Exotic aromas of blackberry, cherry-vanilla, cola, Indian spices and potpourri. Very fresh, spicy dark berry and candied cherry flavors display supple texture and a slow-building spiciness. The floral qualities repeat on the seductively sweet, long finish.

Jan 2010 : 93/100
Glass-staining purple. Pungent, perfumed bouquet of black raspberry and cherry compote, cola and spicecake lifted by a sexy floral quality. Broad, palate- coating dark fruit and floral pastille flavors becomes spicier with air and pick up a note of mocha. Deep and sweet but surprisingly lively, with excellent finishing clarity and lingering spiciness.

Deep red with a bright rim. Very fresh scents of wild strawberry, raspberry, minerals and flowers. Racy, tightly focused red berry and floral pastille flavors are firmed by dusty tannins and complicated by white pepper and allspice.

Quite forward, with lots of garrigue and tobacco aromas, followed by a mix of black cherry, olive and mineral notes. A nice dusty edge frames the finish. Drink now through 2010.

This is very solid, with a beam of red berry, vanilla and modest toast notes that show nice length on the focused finish. Drink now.

A grippy, traditional style, with chestnut, tobacco and dark fig notes held in check by muscular tannins. Pronounced minerality, along with sage and more tobacco, takes aver on the finish. Best from 2009 through 2022.

Delivers gorgeous raspberry ganache, blackberry compote and fig sauce aromas and flavors, with a vibrant, minerally spine and a long, black tea infused finish. Drink now through 2013.

Ce gigondas promis à grand devenir livre un nez complexe où la myrtille et la réglisse ressortent sur un vanillé bien présent. Une cuvaison longue et un élevage en partie en foudre, en partie en fût (de plusieurs vins), participent à l'équilibre remarquable entre le boisé et le fruité. Un vin structuré mais fondu, rond et long, que l'on peut attendre trois ou quatre ans.

Very young nose, young dark fruits, plums and fresh pepper. The palate has a really good intensity, nice tannic structure, dark fruit and a superb persistence, this is still a little bit young and square but should get some ageing and develop well.

The nose shows sweet fruit, new oak and chocolate, full-bodied with fruit ans spicy liquorice notes, medium-to-long finish.

The nose displays a lot of earthy and spicy aromas, liquorice and dark plums. The palate has a great length and is filled with ripe dark fruit and refreshing tannins, good balance and drinkability.

Ce Gigondas s'affirme par une matière ferme et riche avec des tanins abondants mais très mûrs renforcés par un fruité qui prend doucement l'ascendant sur une minéralité fine mais persistante.
Parmi les Vins notés entre 15,5 et 17,5 sur 20

Le nez très mûr donne la sensation d'un fruit passerillé. Cette maturité presque excessive accompagne une bouche grasse et charnue mais qui a beaucoup de fond. Même si elle garde l'empreinte d'un fruit légèrement rôti, il y a une réelle séduction dans ce vin.
Parmi les Vins notés entre 15,5 et 17,5 sur 20

Domaine Grand Romane 2005

With prices of Châteauneuf du Pape rising, look to the nearby appellation of Gigondas for value-priced reds. Made with the same grapes, but from different soils, wines from Gigondas offer a similar taste experience. Take, for example, the Pierre Amadieu Gigondas Domaine Grand Romane 2005, offering toast, spice, black cherry and fig cake notes on a rich frame.

Offers suave toast, with spice and fig cake aromas guiding the black cherry, hoisin sauce, graphite and Turkish coffee notes through the long, rich finish. Drink now through 2011.

Offers suave toast, with spice and fig cake aromas guiding the black cherry, hoisin sauce, graphite and Turkish coffee notes through the long, rich finish. Drink now through 2011.

Dark and nicely layered, with fig, hoisin sauce, cocoa powder, mineral and black liquorice notes, all rippling through the long, graphite-tinged finish. Drink now through 2011.

Perfumy, with lovely black cherry, fig and floral aromas and flavors backed by a racy, nicely structured palate. Finishes with a lingering licorice note. Drink now through 2010.

A nice restrained style, with fine-grained tannins carrying cocoa powder, currant paste and fig notes through the slightly firm finish. Drink now through 2009.

Vivid ruby. Expressive aromas of black raspberry, cherry-cola, vanilla and Asian spices. Sweet and supple, with deep red and dark berry flavors, no obvious tannins and a bright snap of minerals. Finishes with clinging spiciness. This is delicious right now.

Deep red. Lively red berries, blood orange and fresh flowers on the nose; smells like Burgundy. Finely Etched, gently sweet strawberry and raspberry flavors offer excellent clarity and finishing energy. Wonderfully elegant and tasty already.

Bright red. Raspberry, anise and floral aromas are impressively pure and energetic. Round and sweet but lively, offering fresh red and dark berry flavors and a silky tannic framework. Becomes richer on the long, sappy finish, with the raspberry quality repeating. This is utterly delicious.

Inky purple. Powerfully scented nose offers a seductive array of dark berry liqueur aromas, along with baking spices and garrigue Round and sweet but vibrant, displaying fresh blackberry and candied cherry flavors and gentle, harmonious tannins. This has Pinot noir-like silkiness of texture and great sex appeal.

Ruby red. Deep dark berry aromas are brightened by graphite and fresh rose, with subbtle baking spicing adding complexity. A round, supple midweight with sweet blackberry and black cherry flavors, supple tannins and a refreshing bite of acidity on the finish. Need some time.

Deep ruby. Highly complex bouquet suggest dark berries, kirsch, licorice, smoked meat and dried flowers. Mouthfilling blackberry and cherry preserve flavors are firmed by supple tannins, which add strength to the long, sappy finish. This has surprising vivacity for such flavour impact.

Bright rubby. Impressively complex, wild array of red and dark berry preserve scents, along with violet and baking spices. Deep and sweet but fresh, with blackberry, candied plum and tapenade flavors. Finishes with serious punch. This will need hearty food.

Bright purple. Deep, complex bouquet suggest dark berries, kirch, licorice, smoked meat and dried flowers. Mouthfilling blackberry and cherry preserve flavors are firmed by supple tannins, which add strength to the long, sappy finish. This has surprising vivacity for such flavour impact.

Ruby-red. Spicy red berry and cherry aromas, with a bright mineral streak. Focused and pure, with bright raspberry and strawberry flavors. This delightfully crisp, balanced Vacqueyras finishes with excellent length and delineation.

Ruby-red. Powerful, deeply spicy blackberry and kirsch aromas, with a suave mocha accent. Plush and sweet, showing deep dark fruit flavors, velvety tannins and impressive finishing persistence. Sexy stuff.

Deep red. Vivid, intensely spicy scents of raspberry and strawberry, with a bright mineral underpinning. Fresh red berry flavors are firm and juicy. Finishes energetic and long, with harmonious tannins.

Bright red. Pure red fruits on the nose, lifted by intriguing floral and star anise notes. Nicely focused Gigondas with fresh raspberry and strawberry flavors, medium body and a long, chewy finish. I like the balance here.

Dark red. Intense Asian spices accent bright red fruit aromas, with a subtle lavender note emerging with aeration. Silky and precise, with bright red berry flavors, suave tannins and a gentle licorice quality. Finishes sweet and long.

A little light in body, but this is a charmer of a wine featuring fully ripe Grenache scents and flavors of cherries and apricots. Best Buy

Juicy, with plum and raspberry notes pushed by tobacco, tar and mineral hints. Nice touch of grip.- J.M.

Ripe and juicy. Lots of dark plum and currant fruit, but no hard edges or heavy-handed toast letting the mineral and mocha notes play out on the fruit filled finish. Drink now through 2009.

Ripe, with fig, cherry jam and plum sauce flavors that manage to stay fresh and inviting through the long finish, where notes of graphite, tar and licorice chime in. Drink now through 2008. - J.M.

Alluring spice, coffee and crushed berry fruit aromas and flavors, with a ripe, plush texture. Long finish is plush, and filled with dark fruit.

Silky, with ripe currant and cherry fruit backed by sweet toast and spice notes on the finish. Drink now through 2007.-J.M.

A blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre, the dark ruby-colored 2004 Gigondas Domaine Grand Romane reveals attractive, up-front, soft berry and cherry notes intermixed with herbes de Porvence, earth, and spice box. It is best consumed over the next 5-6 years.

The 2004 Gigondas Cuvee grande reserve (75% grenache and 25% syrah aged in one-third new oak and two-thirds foudres) possesses a deep ruby/purple color as well as abig, smoky, seaweed, provençal herb, pepper, and black fruit-scented bouquet. It should drink well for 5-6 years.

A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah grown in limestone-based hillside vineyards, the 2004 Gigondas Romane Machotte exhibits an impressive, fleshy, full-bodied, muscular personality with copious quantities of black cherry and berry fruit intermixed with flowers, crushed rocks, and pepper. It is a big, rich, dense Gigondas to drink over the next 7-8 years.

Auf gut 400 Meter Höhe wachsen die Trauben (überwiegend Grenache, Mourvèdre und Syrah) für diesen Prestigewein von Pierre Amadieu. Er kommt wie ein ganz traditioneller Gigondas daher, erinnert sein würziges Bukett doch an Leder, einen Stall und dessen vierbeinige Bewohner. Sein Kaffee-, Kirsch und Pflaumenaroma fand viel Beifall, ebenso die geschliffen klare Beerenfrucht und die schöne SyrahWürrze, Spürbares Tannin, kraftvoller Körper, gute Länge.
Il se présente comme un Gigondas traditionnel. Pourtant son bouquet savoureux rappelle le cuir, et l'arôme animal. Son arôme de café, de kirsch et de prunes est très agréable, tout comme les petits fruits et les épices de la syrah. Des tanins bien présents,du corps, une bonne longueur.

Leathery, bacon aspects on reserved bouquet. Herbal aftertaste. A rising Star.

Since starting a revival under Pierre Amadieu, grandson of the Pierre Amadieu who bought the domaine in 1950, things are better supervised, and cuvées like the Domaine Grand Romane now contain clear cut fruit but also a meaty interior in big vintages like 2003. The length is furniched by 20% Mourvèdre. The Grande Réserve, 85% Grenache, 15% Syrah, has stylish fruit and regains a local stamp with age.

Another 2003 gigondas that resembles a red burgundy more than a southern Rhône, Grand Romane's offering reveals floral, cherry and blue berry secnts intermixed with notions of flowers and minerals. This medium-bodied, stylish, restrained, elegant effort will drink well for 5-7 years.

Beautiful from start to finish. Very focused, with gorgeous black and red fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, the mineral and wet earth complexity brings a chewy, chalky character that adds depth to this silky and subtle gem. Tempting now, but built for aging. Best from 2004 through 2010.