2013 Gigondas La Colline Domaine des Bosquets

Easily one of the wines of the vintage, the 2013 Gigondas La Colline is an incredible wine from a vintage that too often delivers mid-weight, austere wines. Made from almost all Grenache that spent 19 months in 25% new demi-muids (there's a scant four barrels made), its surprisingly dark color is followed by beautifully perfumed notes of black raspberries, blackberry, licorice, limestone-like minerality and flowers. Full-bodied, layered, silky and ultra-pure, with fine tannin, it's already hard to resist but will have an easy 10-12 years of overall longevity.

Dark ruby. Heady, smoke- and spice-tinged aromas of dark berry liqueur and candied licorice, lent urgency by a peppery quality. Supple, broad and gently sweet, offering appealingly sweet blueberry and cassis flavors and a hint of succulent herbs. In a lush, generous style but not at all heavy. Finishes smooth, smoky and long, displaying repeating spiciness and velvety, late-arriving tannins.

Ripe and layered, with notes of raspberry pâte de fruit, plum coulis and warm cherry preserves forming the core, while a lively licorice snap accent adds range and energy. Features a dense structure and silky edges, letting the fruit win out easily on the finish. A beautiful wine. Best from 2016 through 2023. -JM