Notify me
A New Arrival from Gigondas
A New Arrival from Gigondas
by Jane Augustine by Jane Augustine
2022 Gigondas
2022 Gigondas
Henri Leydier and his son Gaëtan
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône | Gigondas
Throw a rock (or a riverbed stone) in the southern Rhône and chances are you’ll land on a bottle whose contents, for the price, wouldn’t hold a candle to Henri Leydier’s Gigondas from Domaine de Durban. Bottled in small quantities, it is ounce for ounce one of the best bargains in our book, and perhaps the entire region.
Squarely cut and sturdily built, Henri is a third-generation winegrower who inherited the hefty hands of someone destined for arduous vineyard and cellar work. A glass of wine in his grasp looks fragile, almost miniature. But like Henri, his Gigondas—densely concentrated and deeply opaque—is more refined than meets the eye. Grenache and a generous dose of Syrah are entirely de-stemmed, and never come in contact with oak during fermentation or ageing. The resulting wine is distinctly smoky and sculpted, with structured tannins, and a whiff of wild violet. It’s a striking wine whose Syrah qualities really shine.
Last time I visited the estate with colleagues to taste with Henri, he served up heaping plates of black olive tapenade, slabs of chunky pâté, and perhaps the most versatile dish around—anchovy pizza! With an easy, gap-toothed smile and gentle gaze, Henri poured one vintage after another of cool Gigondas from his chilly stone cellar. He left us feeling charmed and welcome, and so did his wine.
Henri Leydier and his son Gaëtan
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah |
Appellation: | Gigondas |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Domaine de Durban |
Winemaker: | The Leydier Family |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1974, 6 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | Aged in concrete tanks |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 15% |
More from this Producer or Region
2022 Beaumes-de-Venise Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
Grenache is joined by Syrah and a drop of Mourvèdre to create this delightful everyday red scented with herbes de Provence and ripe black cherry.
2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
France | Southern Rhône
Truly classic Vieux Télégraphe, deep and powerful as usual, yet showing great finesse and class, almost an ethereal quality.
2021 Tavel Rosé HALF BOTTLE
France | Southern Rhône
This dark, autumnal rosé is a beacon of tradition in a sea of paler styles.
2021 Gigondas “Les Racines”
France | Southern Rhône
The palate is dense and ripe, yet wonderfully smooth and elegant. Racines seems to tap into the history of Les Pallières, the prestige and the high-toned elegance.
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse “Le Pigeoulet” Blanc
France | Southern Rhône
The blend is equal parts Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette. Together, they create a wine that has a complex mouth-feel that finishes with a nice refreshing acidity.
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Floureto” MAGNUM
France | Southern Rhône
The Férigoules have honed a unique style of Vacqueyras that mixes deep, dark color with a lightness of touch, rusticity with warmth, and minerality with delicious fresh fruit.
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
Hailing from a parcel of co-planted vines adjacent to the family home, these varieties were planted together with the express purpose of making the house rouge, the everyday vibrant and juicy drink you’d bring to the table in a jug and drink out of a cup.
2021 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
France | Southern Rhône
This lovely Muscat is full of fresh honeysuckle and ripe citrus fruit.
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
France | Southern Rhône
Leydiers at Domaine de Durban are particularly proud of their Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, a vin doux naturel, as they are among the last to craft it in the traditional style.
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône “Sierra du Sud”
France | Southern Rhône
A pure Syrah bottling offering wild flavors of the Provençal countryside gently wrapped in a thick coat of tooth-staining deep purple fruit.
About The Producer
Domaine de Durban
More from Southern Rhône or France
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
Huile d’Olive Vierge Extra
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
Clairette de Die “Tradition”
Domaine Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel Rosé
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Contre Couleur”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “Clos la Roquète”
Frédéric & Daniel Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “La Sagesse”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse “Le Pigeoulet” Blanc
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel “La Combe des Rieu”
La Combe des Rieu France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
Huile d’Olive Vierge Extra
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
Clairette de Die “Tradition”
Domaine Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel Rosé
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Contre Couleur”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “Clos la Roquète”
Frédéric & Daniel Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “La Sagesse”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse “Le Pigeoulet” Blanc
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel “La Combe des Rieu”
La Combe des Rieu France | Southern Rhône
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312