Guillaume Gonnet - "Le Mentor" Gigondas 2022
Price: $37.99
It’s no secret to even the most casual Rhone drinker that Chateauneuf-du-Pape prices have been skyrocketing over the past decade. So the question is posed, where can I get the same quality for little less money?
Hmm… I’ll do you one better… how ‘bout a style I like better of the same quality level, for a lot less dinero.
Gigondas.
Many of you are already familiar with the region… and the wines of Guillaume Gonnet… feel free to scroll down and order. For others…
Gigondas lies about 11 miles northeast of Chateauneuf du Pape. Usually, at this point in my “buy this for less” emails, I tell you it has the same soil, geography or microclimate. And that’s the reason for the quality/value proposition.
But not this time! You see, what made Chateauneuf famous was their soil – pebbles, rocks and stones that soaked up the sunshine and radiated the heat back to the vines at night, ensuring rich, ripe wines.
Then there is Gigondas...
Gigondas is characterized by its location along the slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range. In addition to the slightly cooler climate from the higher elevation, the vineyards are largely protected by the mountains from the morning sun. The result is an extended growing season, and a wider day-night temperature fluctuation that maintains acidity in the grapes. The soil is a combination of limestone and sand. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Yeah… 100 years ago, the grapes struggled to ripen consistently. Now? As Global Warming churns the alcohol level of Chateauneuf wines upwards of 16%, the producers in Gigondas are able to more easily maintain balance.
More than the flavors of the wines, which are extremely similar to indistinguishable, it is the balance and structure of Gigondas that I prefer.
Especially when we talk about the specifics of THIS wine. Gonnet’s vineyards here are 60 years old, resulting in concentrated fruit flavors. But the vines are NORTH-facing, further protecting them from the heat and withering sun. Don’t get me wrong… at 14.5% alcohol, this is not a shy wine. But it has a balance of acidity, alcohol and fruit that I find positively seductive. And delicious! Want a few textbook descriptors of the wine? Sure… Guillaume? “Dark fruit, plum, blueberry, blackberries, licorice, raisin, slight earthy and herbal notes coming through with a hint of black pepper.”
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