Domaine du Cayron Gigondas 2020 – 750ml Breakthru

93pts Jeb Dunnuck

I always find the wines of Domaine du Cayron to be singular and exotic, and I love them, but admittedly, they’re not for everyone. Their 2020 Gigondas checks in as 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault and Mourvèdre that was destemmed and aged all in very old foudre. Cassis, blueberries, bay leaf, basil, and exotic flowers notes all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with wonderful purity of fruit and a notable sense of freshness. It’s a beautiful barrel sample from this family.

Winemaker Notes

Rich and hearty mouthfeel with notes of red fruits and aromatic herbs (basil and laurel). A mineral-rich and elegant wine associated with notes of truffles and flowers showing a gorgeously long finish.

Blend: 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 8% Cinsault & Mourvèdre

Vineyard Notes

Domaine du Cayron (Roseline, Cendrine, and Delphine) are the fifth generation to run this historic 40-acre estate in Gigondas. Most of the Cayron vineyards are found at an altitude of 300-400 meters, sitting in the shadow of the formidable Dentelles de Montmirail, where only about 25% of the Gigondas appellation is found. The family embodies the concept of one domaine, one wine, wherein all of the grapes from the 60+ year old vines go into one single cuvee. Fermented in concrete tanks built into the floor of the winery, the wine is then aged for two years in large foudres that date back more than 50 years. The sisters have an uncanny ability to transmit the aromas and flavors of garrigue (the mix of herbs that grow wild in the south of France) more clearly that perhaps any other winery in the region. The vin de garde’s unique profile speaks so clearly of place, it can only be seen as the true embodiment of the term “terror-driven wine”. Always affable and delightfully energetic, the sisters are too humble to admit what is clear to all who enjoy their wines: this is one of the finest properties in all of the Rhone.

Sustainable