2023 vintage tasting note:
The first nose is a dusting of gorgeous fresh fruits, with cassis to the fore. Its appealing acidity continues on the palate. The tannins are silky, and the fruit lingers. Liquorice sticks, orange zest - it's nicely balanced.

To the north of the Dentelles de Montmirail, in the municipality of Gigondas, in the locality of Les Pallières, each row of vines is a contour line. The countryside there exudes uncommon charm. Working in this fabulous garden of vines, they make every effort to extract from an exceptional terroir the Gigondas - wines they desire!

Les Pallières is a little paradise on earth. Anyone arriving in this magical place for the first time is inevitably spellbound. The countryside exerts amazing charm: the buildings nestle amid 25 hectares of vines on hillsides dotted with cherry, fig, olive, peach and walnut trees, in addition to the surrounding forest. What makes the spot so alluring is the happy marriage of crops and the southern forest, composed mainly of pine and oak. The estate includes 110 hectares of woodland, which serves as a protective belt around the vines. But the picture would not be complete without mentioning the spring that fills the fountains, adding a year-round touch of coolness which in the summer months is pure magic.

SOIL AND SUBSOIL: the vineyard has been built mainly into single-row terraces, to cope with the very steep slopes. The soil, which is partly covered by limestone rockslides from the Dentelles de Montmirail hill range, is very shallow and sits on a highly compact layer of red clay. The higher you go, the greater the proportion of scree

GRAPE VARIETIES: 80% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah and Cinsault (complanted), 5% Clairette.

VINE AGE: 70 years on average.

VINIFICATION: grapes are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, then a third sort in the winery. Gentle crushing and selective destemming, followed by 25-30 days' traditional fermentation in temperature-controlled concrete and wooden vats. Pneumatic pressing, then systematic malolactic fermentation.

MATURATION: 20 months in French oak foudres (60 hl). Bottled unfined and unfiltered, then released at 2 years.

PERSONALITY AND AGEING: "Racines", a cuvée made with grapes from the estate's oldest vines, has the velvet, depth and harmony that defines old grenache when cultivated in refined terroirs. It has very high ageing potential, as balance is the main factor.

"A well-rounded, lively and almost floral Gigondas with small red berries, wildflowers and baking spices on the nose, following through to a full body with polished tannins. Seductive texture with supple fruit character to the long, fine finish."
95-96 points.
Stuart Pigott, jamessuckling.com (April 2025)