Gigondas Has a Reputation for Punching You in the Face. Does It Live Up to That?
The Wine Pair PodcastJuly 19, 202600:50:13

Gigondas Has a Reputation for Punching You in the Face. Does It Live Up to That?

Are you a fan of powerful red wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape but don’t love the price tag? Then Gigondas may be the wine you’ve been waiting for. Gigondas is often called the “little brother” of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and shares many of the same characteristics including hailing from the southern Rhône in France and containing the same GSM or Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes in its blend. And while it is a powerful wine that is the perfect companion to steak frites, it is also extremely balanced and elegant. We’ll explore the history and techniques behind this fabulous wine, but more importantly, we’ll give you our honest review of two Gigondas wines to let you know if either or both are worth your hard-earned money. And as we do every week, we’ll round out our conversation with some “wine in the news this week” fun as well as random side conversations like the names of the two main characters in Revenue of the Nerds. It’s hard to explain. You just have to listen. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Notre Dame des Pallieres Gigondas Les Mourres, 2023 Crous St Martin Gigondas Les Espaliers

0:00 Introduction
0:31 Episode Overview and First Thoughts on Gigondas
11:57 Topic: WTF is Gigondas?
19:45 Gigondas Wines We Chose for This Episode
25:05 2023 Notre Dame des Pallieres Gigondas Les Mourres Wine Tasting, Pairing, and Review
32:46 2023 Crous St Martin Gigondas Les Espaliers Wine Tasting, Pairing, and Review
39:43 The Test: Did we nail the taste profiles expected from Gigondas?
42:05 What is the verdict on Gigondas?
42:37 Wine in the news this week: French Wine's New North Star
46:20 Listener Shoutouts
48:00 Wines coming up in future episodes in case you want to drink along with us
48:47 Outro and how to find The Wine Pair Podcast

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What does Gigondas wine taste like?
A. Gigondas is a big, structured red built mostly on Grenache, showing ripe red and black fruit like cherry, plum, and blackberry alongside wild herb notes locals call garrigue: thyme, lavender, and white pepper. Tannins run firm and alcohol runs high, but well made bottles balance that power with real fruit and food friendly acidity rather than tasting harsh.

Q. Does Gigondas really live up to its "punch you in the face" reputation?
A. Not always. Gigondas has a reputation as a big, tannic, aggressive wine, and it can be intense: high alcohol and firm tannins are typical of the style. But well made examples are more balanced than that reputation suggests, pairing ripe fruit and structure with real elegance instead of pure brute force. Producer and vintage matter.

Q. What grapes are used to make Gigondas wine?
A. Red Gigondas is built mainly on Grenache, which must make up at least 50 percent and as much as 80 percent of the blend. Syrah and Mourvèdre together must account for at least 15 percent, and other varieties like Cinsault or Counoise are capped at 10 percent combined. Carignan is not allowed at all.

Q. What's the difference between Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
A. Both are Southern Rhône reds built on Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre, sharing similar power and grape makeup. The main difference is price and polish: Gigondas is often called Châteauneuf-du-Pape's slimmer cousin, typically costing less while modern producers push toward a more elegant, less aggressive style than Châteauneuf-du-Pape's bigger, more expensive reputation.

Q. What food pairs well with Gigondas wine?
A. Gigondas is a food wine built for rich, hearty dishes. Think steak frites, ribs, burgers, and stews, plus dishes like eggplant parmigiana or stuffed flank steak. Its fruit and firm tannins also stand up to Thanksgiving turkey with gravy, fried chicken, pork ribs, spicy dishes, and creamy sauces, making it a versatile match at the table.

Q. How much should you expect to pay for a good bottle of Gigondas?
A. Plan on spending closer to thirty dollars than twenty. Good Gigondas commonly runs from the high twenties into the thirties and beyond, noticeably more than everyday Côtes du Rhône. The appellation's bigger fruit, structure, and critical acclaim come with a real price premium, so budget past bargain territory if you want a genuine example.


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