I tasted these wines over dinner with Julien Bréchet of Domaine des Bosquets. He took over the family domaine in 2006 and has made great strides in terms of pushing quality and refinement. He farms 26 hectares in the appellation, covering the lieu dits of Jasio, La Colline, Le Plateau, les Bosquets, Roche, Les Routes, and Les Blâches, and farming is organic. Vines are old, averaging 50 years.
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Rosé 2023
Just 1% of Gigondas’ production is rosé. This is Grenache on sand and limestone, harvested in small crates then chilled before pressing. Fermented and aged in 90% concrete, 10% barrel. Pale pink, this is a lovely supple, textured wine with a slight saltiness. Very textural and fine with nice weight. Pure, fine and delicate with fine spices. 92/100
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Réserve 2022
Grenache noir 60%, Syrah 30%, Mourvèdre 7%, Cinsault 3%. Lovely purity and concentration here with bold but balanced cherry and berry fruits. Finely spiced with some exotic liquorice and garrigue notes, finishing with firm tannins. Lovely fruit intensity and good structure should ensure good ageing potential for this wine. 95/100
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas 2018
14% alcohol. This was a complex vintage with more rain than normal, resulting in mildew during spring that impacted flowering. The result was a very low yield of 16 hl/ha which made for concentrated wines. They normally use 30% stems, but here it was 95% destemmed because of the mildew. Bright blackcurrant and black cherry fruit aromatics. Juicy and lively with amazing elegance and drinkability, showing velvety bright red and black fruits with freshness and good acidity, allied to ripeness. Very pure and intense with notes of liquorice and spice adding interest. 94/100
Domaine Bosquets Gigondas Le Lieu Dit… 2013
This is 100% Grenache from sandy soils and a fresh microclimate with shade in the morning and evening. It’s 15% alcohol but has a pH of 3.45. Harvested on 20 October, with 2 x 600 litre barrels produced from 1.8 hectares. The wine is fresh and supple with lovely raspberry and cherry fruit. So supple with nice grip and good acidity. Such brightness here. Tart and precise. 94/100
DOMAINE DES BOSQUETS
2 Chem. des Bosquets, 84190 Gigondas
04 90 65 80 45
ar@domainedesbosquets.com
RHÔNE DISCOVERY