The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Tradition 2021
Red WineIssue 77

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Tradition 2021

Domaine Santa Duc

Gigondas, Southern Rhône, France
Yves Gras farms some of Gigondas' oldest Grenache vines, and that pedigree shows here. The 2021 vintage gave concentration without heaviness, and this bottling captures the sunbaked terroir of the Dentelles de Montmirail with transparency and precision. A serious southern Rhône at a fair price.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berry fruit and crushed violet open the bouquet, with garrigue herbs, cracked black pepper, and a savory gamey quality emerging underneath. A faint whiff of cedar adds structure to the aromatics.

Palate

Dense and concentrated, with blackcurrant and cherry compote framed by fine-grained tannins. The midpalate introduces a minerally, almost stony quality alongside warm toasted notes. Violets persist throughout, keeping the heavier fruit honest.

Finish

Long and savory, with fading pepper, cedar, and a final lift of wild herbs.

Specifications
Varietal
Grenache
Blend
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
Vineyards
Old vines on limestone slopes, Dentelles de Montmirail
Alcohol
14.5%
Organic / Biodynamic
No
Serve & Pair

Food Pairing

Lamb shoulder braised with rosemary and olives

The Story

Yves Gras, third-generation vigneron at Domaine Santa Duc in Gigondas, farms old-vine Grenache on the limestone slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail using organic methods, fermenting with indigenous yeasts in concrete and aging in large neutral oak.

Train These Aromas
Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More Red Wine Reviews
Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Pic Saint-Loup 2020
Red Wine

Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée Pic Saint-Loup 2020

Domaine de l'Hortus

Domaine de l'Hortus Grande Cuvée is a masterful expression of Pic Saint-Loup — a region where the altitude and dramatic temperature swings between day and night produce wines of remarkable freshness despite the Mediterranean heat. This is serious Languedoc red at a fraction of Rhône Valley prices.

Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Estates 2021
Red Wine

Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Estates 2021

Domaine de la Côte

Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman's estate-wide blend offers a window into their meticulous Sta. Rita Hills farming without the single-vineyard price tag. It drinks like Burgundy in its restraint and transparency, proving that California Pinot Noir can whisper rather than shout.

Domaine de la Bouïssière Gigondas Les Olivets 2021
Red Wine

Domaine de la Bouïssière Gigondas Les Olivets 2021

Domaine de la Bouïssière

The Faravel family farms old-vine Grenache and Mourvèdre on Gigondas's rocky Dentelles de Montmirail slopes, where low yields and extreme diurnal temperature swings build concentration naturally. Les Olivets is their flagship — a wine of real substance that never sacrifices drinkability for power. Give it thirty minutes in a decanter and it opens beautifully.

Pietradolce Etna Rosso DOC 2021
Red Wine

Pietradolce Etna Rosso DOC 2021

Pietradolce

Pietradolce farms some of the highest vineyards on Etna's north slope, and this entry-level Rosso punches well above its price. Nerello Mascalese shows its best here — transparent, mineral-driven, alive with tension. It's a red wine that feels like it was drawn from the rock itself.