Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas 2009

Home to the very first Gigondas vines in 1376, Domaine des Bosquets now has 26 hectares of vines (up to 75 years old) lying directly under the Dentelles de Montmirail, the imposing 350-metres-high rock formation that is visible from almost all of the Southern Rhône. The resulting wines have freshness and balance from the high altitude as well as a powerful fruit character from the warm Southern sun.

Vineyards
The vineyards have an average age of 30 years and are located on the south-western slopes of the Gigondas appellation on three different types of soils at varying altitudes. 65% are grown on blue-clay soils with a high proportion of gravel at an altitude of between 250 and 300 meters above sea level. 25% are grown on the sandy-clay soils of the Hautes Garrigues which are found between 200 and 250 meters above sea level. The final 10% are grown on chalk-clay soils at around 170m. These conditions stagger the ripening of the grapes giving a harvest period usually of around 3 weeks, as well as excellent balance and complexity in the wines.

Vinification
The grapes were hand-picked and sorted before being destemmed. Gravity was used to move the harvest gently into stainless steel tanks for 35 days, where a cool maceration drew out the precious black fruit flavours and intense, inky colour. 8 days of fermentation at 28 degrees, with daily racking to aerate the must, preceeded further maceration and malo-lactic fermentation. The parcels of wine were blended before 40% was put into oak barrels for 12 months.