Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Reserve 2018

  • 95 Decanter
  • 94 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
3.9 Very Good (29)
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Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Reserve 2018  Front Bottle Shot
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Reserve 2018  Front Bottle Shot Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Reserve 2018  Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2018

Size
750ML

Features
Green Wine

Your Rating

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

The Gigondas Reserve (reserve as of the 2018 vintage) comprises the majority of the production at Domaine des Bosquets. It is about 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 2% Cinsault sourced from all the terroirs Julien farms.

Professional Ratings

  • 95
    The original blended Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas is now available in two cuvées: Font des Bosquets (young vines, shorter ageing, no oak) and Réserve (older vines, 14 plots vinified separately including fruit from the top single vineyard sites, maturation in different types of oak for 18 months depending on the variety). The result is an extraordinary exercise in elegance, beautifully silky tannins and deeply vinous fruit. This is long, shapely and tapered with depth, freshness, elegance, and a seamless character. If the alcohol was marginally better integrated this would possible score higher. It's quite an expressive, almost showy wine, but it will be excellent when it's ready. Not as strongly characterful as each of the single vineyard expressions, but better balanced, and more quintessentially Gigondas. In organic conversion.
  • 94
    Leading off the 2018s from bottle, the 2018 Gigondas Réserve is a mix of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah, and can be thought of as the classic cuvée of the domaine. It’s beautifully done and shows the style of the domaine in its full-bodied, rich, yet also elegant profile. Offering a mix of red and black fruits, herbes de Provence, peppery garrigue, and flowers, this beauty is flawlessly balanced, has a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and just tons of character. Drink this little gem any time over the coming decade.
  • 93

    Although I reported differently last year, the final blend of the 2018 Gigondas is approximately 65% Grenache, with the rest a mix of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault (in descending order of preponderance). Gentle notes of bay leaf and thyme accent purple raspberries on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied and generous, showing supple, silky tannin's and surprisingly crisp acids on the finish.

  • 93

    Fresh and lively, with a ripe core of dark cherry and blackberry fruit leading the way for dried garrigue, singed apple wood and dark licorice notes.

Other Vintages

2020
  • 94 Vinous
  • 93 Wine &
    Spirits
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
2019
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
2017
  • 94 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
2016
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
  • 92 Robert
    Parker
2015
  • 94 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 91 Jeb
    Dunnuck
2014
  • 92 Robert
    Parker
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
2013
  • 91 Wine
    Spectator
  • 91 Robert
    Parker
2012
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
2011
  • 91 Robert
    Parker
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
2010
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
  • 91 Robert
    Parker
1999
  • 92 Robert
    Parker
Domaine des Bosquets

Domaine des Bosquets

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Domaine des Bosquets, France
Domaine des Bosquets Domaine des Bosquets at Dusk Winery Image

Much like many of the appellations of the southern Rhône, the wines of Gigondas are based on the Grenache grape. It tends to rusticity if yields are not checked or if it is vinified carelessly. It is supported by Syrah and Mourvèdre with smaller amounts of various other varieties. There are two types of wine made in Gigondas, red and rosé, but the production of rosé is so small it’s mainly an academic point. Gigondas is red wine country. While you can find some white varieties in the vineyards, they are either bottled as Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc or co-fermented with the red grapes to make Gigondas red and rosé wines.

Domaine des Bosquets has deep historical roots in Gigondas. It was first mentioned as a vineyard site in 1376. Bosquets means “a wooded grove,” which is an apt name for many of the vineyards one finds high up in the Dentelles – isolated and surrounded by forest and scrub. The oldest surviving buildings on the property, constructed in 1644 under Jean de Rivière Seigneur de Laval’s direction, are comprised of a defensive tower, protective walls, and a solidly built provençal farmhouse. All have thick walls testifying to the need for protection against the cold winds of winter, the heat of summer, and the risks of living in such a remote corner of France. In 1674 the estate was inherited by the Chauvet family, who ran the property for many generations. In the 19th century, the estate passed through Eugène Raspail’s hands, who reorganized many of the vineyard plots and terraced portions of them. In 1961 Gabriel Meffre discovered that Domaine des Bosquets was for sale. Motivated by the potential and history of the estate and his love of his wife Juliette, a descendant of the Chauvet family, he purchased Domaine des Bosquets to bring it back into the family.

The property Gabriel and Juliette had purchased was in some state of disrepair. The earlier work of Eugène Raspail was unfinished but following in his footsteps, they completed the reorganization of the vineyards, most notably finishing the terraces that separated two vineyards sites that would become La Colline and Le Plateau. Many of the vines that exist today at Domaine des Bosquets were planted by Gabriel and Juliette, relying on their friendship with the Reynaud of Château Rayas for budwood to replant much of the Grenache and Syrah and expanding the plantings to the estate’s current size of 26 hectares. When Gabriel died in 1987, Domaine des Bosquets passed to his daughter Sylvette and Sylvette’s son Laurent Brechet. In 1995 Laurent built a fermentation room and cellar at Domaine des Bosquets – before that time the grapes were sent to Gabriel Meffre’s négoce operation in Gigondas and later they were fermented and aged at Château de Vaudieu in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The most recent chapter of Domaine des Bosquets’ history began in 2010 when Julien Brechet, Laurent’s younger brother, took charge of the property. With little in the way of technical training, Laurent sent him to Château de Pibarnon in Bandol to begin his training before finishing his informal studies at Château de Vaudieu. Julien considers 2015 to be his first independent vintage. While Philippe and Laurent were available to answer questions, he was left largely on his own. With each successive vintage that we taste, we are astounded that wines that were so remarkable when we first added them to our portfolio just keep getting better.

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With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.

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Gigondas Wine

Rhone, France

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The Southern Rhône region of Gigondas extends northwest from the notably jagged wall of mountains called the Dentelles di Montmirail, whose highest point climbs to about 2,600 feet. The region and its wines have much in common with the neighboring Chateauneuf-du-Pape except that the vineyards of Gigondas exist at higher elevation and its soils, comprised mainly of crumbled limestone from the Dentelles, often produce a more dense and robust Grenache-based red wine.

The region has a history of fine winemaking, extending back to Roman times. But by the 20th century, Gigondas was merely lumped into the less distinct zone of Côtes du Rhône Villages. However, it was first among these satellite villages to earn its own appellation, which occurred in 1971.

Gigondas reds must be between 50 to 100% Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre comprising the bulk of the remainder of the blend. They tend express rustic flavors and aromas of wild blackberry, raspberry, fig, plum, as well as juniper, dried herbs, anise, smoke and river rock. The best are bold but balanced, and finish with impressively sexy and velvety tannins.

The Gigondas appellation also produces rosé but no white wines.

IPOPI_EC6225_2018 Item# 704256

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