Olivier et Lafond
Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Violets and plum fruit on the nose, good sense of ripeness, almost sweet core to the fruit. A little on the heady side, alcohol is a little high. Good, fairly straightforward style with discernible Gigondas character.
Olivier et Lafond
Five-year-old négociant business, a partnership between two winemaking consultants. Victoria plum with some darker, brambly fruit. Medium-bodied, pretty powerful acidity and tight tannins - a structured Côtes-du-Rhône with warming alcohol on the finish. Good breadth of juicy, ripe fruit on the mid-palate. Good concentration.
Domaine Gourt de Mautens
Already aromatically open and expressive, with black pepper and juniper married with liquorice, raspberry, plum and garrigue herbs. It's full-bodied, but so lively and expressive, with keen, firm acidity, a fairly grand tannic structure and a powerful, grippy finish. Long, powerful, assertive. Very well-balanced, very fine in tannin and structure, powerful and vibrant. The alcohol is of course towards the punchy, but it doesn't taste unbalanced. Just outrageously good.
Le Vieux Donjon
Lovely harmonious nose, detailed berry fruits and an underlying dry herbal element. Medium to full body, bright acidity and agreeably dense, but finely fibrous tannins. Mineral edge brings balance and length. Very well balanced, almost unassuming in a way, but deeply authentic, savoury and - crucially - a highly drinkable style of Chateauneuf that will age with interest.