2009 Santa Duc Gigondas Cuvee 66

The newest cuvee, the 2009 Grand Grenache 66 (16.2% alcohol) is a tiny cuvee bursting with kirsch liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box. This is a stunning example of Grenache at its best, with wonderful freshness, and for Grenache afficionados, this is one to buy and drink over the next 15 or so years. RP

Bright ruby. Explosive scents of red fruit preserves, mocha, lavender oil, black cardamom and star anise. Plush, sweet and seamless, with expansive raspberry and cherry flavors and a touch of candied flowers. Wonderfully pure and silky in texture, with a spine of minerality providing focus and cut. Finishes very long, spicy and smooth, with resonating floral notes and serious punch. Josh Raynolds

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2009 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Grand Grenache 66, a selection of old vine Grenache that’s aged for 18 months in foudre, displays a translucent ruby color to go with perfumed, textbook Grenache aromas of kirsch liqueur, spice-box, white pepper, dusty minerality, and sappy garrigue that flows to a full-bodied, ethereal Gigondas. Needing the better part of the evening to fully flesh out, this beauty possesses a light, seamless texture, perfect ripeness, and a dry, classically styled finish. There’s lots of ripeness here, yet it’s in no way over the top and maintains a sense of balance and elegance. While superb now with a decant, it deserves 2-3 years of bottle age, and will have 15+ years of overall longevity.