We will be taking your orders for the top-rated 2011 Gigondas from Domaine du Cayron to the LCBO next Friday, February 14th. The winery is owned by the Faraud family and they make their wine the old fashioned way. It is very, very good. Make sure to add some to your collection.

Gigondas
As Robert Parker notes in his excellent book ‘Wines of the Rhône Valley’, “Gigondas remains one of the wine world’s great bargains. Gigondas is never a shy or subtle wine. Its appeal is its robust, frank, generous, extroverted character, in addition to its value. It is to be savoured and admired because of these virtues. Great wines from Gigondas will rival those of its neighbor Châteauneuf du Pape and the wines produced under the skillful hands of the Faraud family often do just that.”

The 2010 Vintage in the Southern Rhône
The only problem with the 2011 vintage in the Southern Rhône is that it tends to be overshadowed by the superb 2009 and 2010 vintages. To put it all in perspective, here is how the ‘Wine Spectator’ rates the three vintages: 2009 – 94; 2010 – 98; 2011 – 91 (which is still a very high rating). One advantage of the 2011 is that it promises to be drinking earlier than its two predecessors.

Domaine du Cayron

Cendrine, Delphine, Roseline et moi!

Considered by many to be the benchmark producer in the appellation, (Robert Parker includes it as one of only three ‘Outstanding’ producers of the appellation) Cayron crafts a Gigondas of phenomenal richness and incredible longevity. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more terroir-expressive wine anywhere in the Southern Rhone. Furthermore, Cayron is among the most age-worthy of Gigondas, delicious upon release, but improving for well over a decade and holding strong for a long time thereafter. This 16-hectare domaine is a classic and truly top-flight estate.

Established in 1840, Domaine du Cayron is situated at the entrance of the picturesque village of Gigondas. The property (including a very special plot of seventy year old gnarled Grenache) has been owned and managed by the Faraud family for the past five generations. Michel Faraud recently turned over the operation of his winery to his three daughters, Delphine, Cendrine and Roseline. They spend a great deal of time in the vineyard, restricting yields and always hand harvesting the grapes at their maximum ripeness. The grapes are hand pressed in an ancient wood press and the wine then rests in old wood for up to a year before it is bottled. The Farauds don’t fine or filter their Gigondas and the massive amount of ripe black fruit flavors found in their wine is always tempered by a profoundly complex expression of the terroir. It is important to note that each vintage is truly unique. The wine is being made the way the Farauds want it. Their Gigondas is not manipulated to appeal to the prejudices of wine importers or writers. They don’t have to – each vintage is practically spoken for before the bottling begins.

The Wine
The standard bottles are available in six-bottle cases, while the magnums (1500 ml) come in three-bottle cases and the jéroboam (double magnum; 3000 ml) one to the case. We plan to take your orders to the LCBO on Friday, February 14^th (what a Valentines treat this would make!). Don’t miss out on this one!

2011 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas – 15.0% Alc./Vol.                       $40/$240 - 6 bottle case
                                                $90/magnum * - $270 - 3 magnum case
                                                $180/jéroboam * – 1 jéroboam per case

This classic Gigondas was crafted from 70% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 14% Syrah and a dollop of Mourvèdre. The yield was thirty-two hectoliters per hectare and came from vines averaging more than forty years of age. The grapes were hand harvested and were not destemmed. The cap was punched down daily during the alcoholic fermentation and the wine was neither fined nor filtered. The finished wine rested in old oak tanks for between six and twelve months.

The fine 2011 is an intense, ruby colour and offers up full, complex aromas of highly perfumed red berries, cherries, black currants, underbrush, pepper, and hints of allspice and lavender. In the mouth it is opulent - silky and elegant, very well-balanced and full with notes of white pepper and minerals on the lingering finish. It will go wonderfully with magret de canard, boeuf bourguignon, roasts, game and most cheese.

Cendrine getting a sample for us from an old vat

“One of the wines of the vintage, the 2011 Gigondas shows the house style with its exotic, perfumed bouquet of lavender, sappy herbs, toasted bread and sweet blackcurrants. Beautifully fresh and pure (especially in the vintage), this medium-bodied, nicely concentrated 2011 can be consumed now or cellared for a decade.

One of my favorite estates in Gigondas, Domaine du Cayron is run by the three Faraud sisters, Cendrine, Roseline and Delphine. The estate covers roughly 40 acres, spread throughout the appellation, and they produce a single Gigondas that’s a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 14% Syrah and a splash of Mourvedre. The style here is staunchly traditional, and their wines always show the gamier, wilder side of Gigondas. Score 92 Points”

Some say it is ready to drink now, but I think that would be like committing infanticide! I’d cellar it for at least a couple of years before happily approaching it. Order your classic Gigondas now.

 Note: the prices include a modest handling fee.

Coming Next from Arthur’s Cellar – Who Knows?

Yet again we are having a very difficult getting our wineries to reply to our messages on a timely basis. Could it be that they go into hibernation this time of year? Perhaps they are all at the Olympics? Regardless, by next Friday we will have something good for you.

Please pass this note on to anyone else you think might be interested in some superb, classic Gigondas from a storied southern Rhône estate.

Many thanks and cheers,

Jim & Hélène
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
hbuisson@ofrance.ca
www.arthursellers.com
www.ofrance.ca