2014 Gigondas Cuvée Le Lieu Dit Domaine des Bosquets

Old vine Grenache grown on sand, 80% destemmed, aged for 18 months in old demi-muids. Intense and detailed on the nose: damson, thyme, plum, eucalyptus. Fairly gentle on the palate, with a little spicy kick on the finish. Good length, good balance, not the fullest or most concentrated but nonetheless a very good wine. It has that forest freshness and vigour that places you immediately in Gigondas.

The spitting image of elegance and finesse, the 2014 Gigondas le Lieu Dit (100% Grenache all from sandy soils) offers up a beautiful perfume of ripe strawberries, framboise, creamy licorice and crushed flowers. Showing the more fresh, lively style of the vintage, yet with terrific density and depth, it has sweet tannin, a silky texture and a great finish. This beauty is already impossible to resist, but will evolve nicely for a decade. There are just over 400 cases of this beauty made.

Vivid ruby. High- pitched, mineral-laced red berry liqueur and potpourri scents are complemented by suggestions of licorice and peppery spices. Silky and open-knit on entry, offering appealingly sweet raspberry and lavender pastille flavors that tighten up slowly with air. Shows very good clarity and cut on the finish, which is given shape by dusty, building tannins.

A pure, high-pitched style, with raspberry coulis, fresh damson plum and bitter cherry notes lending this a sleek, racy feel, while light roobois tea, blood orange and anise details chime in. Reveals a flash of iron on the finish. Sneakily long, showing impressive range.