Domaine de l"Espigouette Gigondas, 2012

Bernard Latour's Domaine de l'Espigouette is located in the Plan de Dieu, and I have enjoyed many of his Cotes du Rhone and CDR Villages Plan de Dieu wines. Bernard has also branched out into Vacqueyras and Gigondas, and this is my first go at one of these upper level CDR Villages.

Deep, dark color. And dark is the number one adjective that comes to mind as I taste this wine. The bouquet has the lifted notes of menthol and garrigue that are typical of Gigondas. But there is a strong black strap molasses quality on the palate that I associate more with Vacqueyras than Gigondas. No worry, the two appellations are very close to each other. Very big, very powerful but under it all I find charming blueberry, strawberry fruit that is very similar to that in the 3 Messes Basses Ventoux beside it at the table. That is a big compliment to the Ventoux (which sells for about a third the cost of the l'Espigouette) but no insult to the Gigondas.