Amadieu Gigondas Shows Grenache Greatness #TryThis

By / Wine + Drinks / August 19th, 2018 / 16

On my recent visit to Southern Rhone and surrounds we were mainly tasting rosé and white wine, but managed to sneak in a few reds, including at a dinner with Henri-Claude Amadieu, of the important Amadieu Rhone wine family, centred in Gigondas, arguably the best terroir for red wine in the Southern Rhone. Yes, even better than Chateauneuf du Pape…

Amadieu has two Gigondas reds available in Atlantic Canada at the moment, and no doubt more in other parts of Canada. Their 2015 Gigondas Grand Romane is $35.99 at ANBL right now, and there is a limited quantity available of their 2012 Gigondas Le Pas de l’Aigle, for $45.99, as part of the special Experience program at ANBL.

These Grenache dominated (~55%) reds show the power and finesse of this great grape, both when young and with some age. Grenache is often thought of as being more of a juicy, soft grape, providing the alcohol and body to Rhone wine, but when you have the good ones, grown on great terroir, you sense the structure and herbal complexity that Grenache can bring, along with that generous red fruit and alcohol power.

The Le Pas de L’Aigle (Eagle’s Pass, their highest elevation vineyard by the gorgeous Dentelles mountains) has beautiful aromas of dried fruit and leather, as well as spice, and has a wonderfully silky texture, with mineral, fruit, anise, and a warm, smooth finish. It’s one of the best reds I’ve had this year, and well worth the splurge. #Trythis with a peppery lamb stew or a pepper steak.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Craig Pinhey discovered good drink circa 1985 at Ginger’s Tavern/Granite Brewery in Halifax and has been writing about beer, wine and spirits for 25 years. A Certified Sommelier and BJCP judge, Craig lives in New Brunswick where he runs his own writing and consulting business and is the beverage columnist for Brunswick News. He is the only person to have judged all of the national wine, spirits and beer awards of Canada.

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