Domaine Gour de Chaulé “Tradition”

Gigondas, france  |  2019

I hope you’re in the mood for a treat because this wine is “Gour”-geous!

Though the wine region Gigondas (alongside Vacqueyras) is often overshadowed by its more famous sibling Châteauneuf-du-Pape, there are many examples Gigondas wines that can rival CDP’s quality, and sometimes be even better and at a fraction of the price.

You guessed it. This is one of those wines.

I know we discuss old vines quite a bit, but keep in mind that vine age contributes to the complexity of wines like how age contributes to complexity in us (hopefully, anyway), and “Tradition” is made from vines averaging 65 years! 3rd and 4th generation winemakers Stephanie Fumoso and her son Paul are creating some of the most incredible under-the-radar blends coming from the Southern Rhône (of which little is distributed to the U.S).

Founded in 1900 by Stephanie’s great-grandfather Eugene Bonfils (whose 123 year old vines still produce fruit), Gour de Chaulé’s 15 hectares of certified organic vineyards produce 3 red cuvées: “Tradition” is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre whole-cluster fermented to allow some contact with the lignified stems to reflect the terroir and nuance the vines have built over the decades.

There is no new oak used which allows the grapes to shine and to help tell the story of the soil of Gigondas that has been producing wines since ancient Roman times. Even when full of big black and red fruits and brimming with dried herbs and black pepper, earth and mineral still stand out amidst all of its primary power.

Since 2019 is a highly regarded vintage in the Rhône, this is a great bottle to consider holding onto for a few more years (if you have the patience), then pair with a grilled ribeye steak and sautéed mushrooms. If you can’t wait, just decant it for a bit before diving in!