Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail 2017

Winemaker Notes
Deep dark purple color. Fruity and spicy rich nose, complex. Very round and powerful, good length on the palate, solid tannins, beautiful woody, ripe retro-olfaction, chocolate.

Professional Ratings

Decanter 97 Points
Few French appellations are as exciting as Gigondas at present, as growers slowly grow more skilled at expressing the extraordinary diversity which lies hidden in this appellation, and as drinkers come to realize just how different Gigondas is to Chateauneuf and to other great Southern Rhone AOC zones. This complex yet seductive wine will win the zone many new friends with its headily floral, sweet-fruited scents and its lush, soft-textured, stony and perfumed flavors. Plum, strawberry and damson rarely attain this level of fragrant charm, yet look out too for the almost sour-fresh note of ripe acidity here. Drink 2019-2025.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
The 2017 Gigondas Les Hauts De Montmirail is made from Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah that was brought up in 50% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of blackberries, ground pepper, spring flowers, and earth. It’s medium to full-bodied, has fine, polished tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It will be even better with short term cellaring and keep for over a decade.

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
Cutting mineral tones lend vitality to ripe, concentrated blackberry and plum in this wine. Aged partially in new French oak, it’s richly textured but elegantly composed, finishing on meandering veins of smoke, anise and sage. Stunning already, it should improve through 2030 and hold further.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 94 Points
Although the 2017 Gigondas les Hauts de Montmirail displays super ripe notes of black cherries and chocolate, it also exhibits great freshness. Yes, it’s full-bodied, intense and slightly cedary from oak, but there’s also ample length and elegance on the finish. It’s a terrific effort.

James Suckling 93 Points
Suave Gigondas with ripe black cherries and plums, delivered in a focused mode. The fresh tannins are so beautifully honed and balanced. Drink or hold.