Beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail
Gigondas nestles against the Dentelles de Montmirail, the jagged limestone ridges overlooking Vaucluse. Vineyards climb from one hundred and sixty to four hundred metres, a considerable altitude in the southern Rhône and the appellation's distinctive feature.
Previously part of Côtes du Rhône Villages, the appellation was promoted to cru in 1971, the first in a series of subsequent promotions. It covers a single commune.
Altitude as a counterbalance
Soils mix limestone scree from the Dentelles, marl and stony terraces. But the terrain makes the difference: higher plots facing north or east experience markedly cooler nights than the plain.
This temperature contrast preserves the acidity and aromas of Grenache, which tends to become heavy under the southern sun. It gives Gigondas a tension rarely found at this level of power.
Power and pepper
Red Gigondas is dense and deeply coloured, with dark fruit, garrigue, pepper and leather. Its tannins are firmer than Châteauneuf's, its structure more upright, and it readily handles ten to fifteen years in the cellar.
A small rosé production complements the appellation. Since the 2023 vintage, the rules also permit a very limited white, based on Clairette, on only around fifteen hectares. Serve the red around 17°C with roast meats, a leg of lamb or a game stew.
The grape varieties of Gigondas
Gigondas wines on 1001caves
Detailed pages: the cuvée, the estate, the drinking window and the bottles for sale between collectors.
