Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas 3L 2016

Jeb Dunnuck : 94-92 Points

(9/26/2018) Similarly colored, the 2016 Gigondas (70% Grenache, 23% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre) will be a beautiful wine from this reference point estate, and I suspect ranking among the finest wines ever made from this address. A huge blast of black raspberries, cherries, dried earth, pepper, and graphite notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, incredibly pure Gigondas that has present tannins, a great mid-palate, and no hard edges. It’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades.

Vinous - Josh Raynolds : 95-93 Points

(8/2018) Lurid ruby-red. Highly expressive red and dark berry preserve aromas are complemented by incense, garrigue and floral pastille nuances. Sappy and seamless on the palate, offering deeply concentrated, primary black raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors and a touch of candied lavender. Smooth, harmonious tannins build slowly on an impressively long, seamless finish that leaves behind sappy floral and dark berry notes.

Wine Advocate : 93 Points

(8/30/2019) Plummy and rich, the 2016 Gigondas is full-bodied and velvety, everything you might expect from this benchmark estate. Dense and powerful, slightly chocolaty, fudge-like notes and elevated alcohol (15.5% alcohol). Like always, it starts off as a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre in the vineyard, although exact proportions can vary from year to year, depending on yields among the different varieties.