“One of my go-to estates in the Southern Rhône - I probably order more bottles of this off wine lists than any other wine.” – Jeb Dunnuck

Mr. Dunnuck has spoken!

I’d order this again, no question” echoes Wine Enthusiast for this rockin’ ‘21 with 94 points.

Best price anywhere as usual, a modest $36 gets you a wine “packed with fruit” just like your favorite Châteauneuf at a mere fraction of the top stuff from there. The perfect addition to your daily rotation!

It’s commonly agreed that outside of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas leads the Southern Rhône in the number of top estates and world-class wines. While prices continue to rise for CdP, these surrounding regions still drop some incredible values - like this.

We turn the mic back to Jeb, who describes the Raspail-Ay style best “while they always possess classic Gigondas characters, with ample spice and garrigue, the wines always lead with a beautifully perfumed, red fruit-driven style that emphasizes elegance, balance, and texture.”

In our glass, it’s a haunting beauty and very reminiscent of a great Southern Rhône. If you were to build a cocktail based on raspberry puree, kirsch, Chartreuse, dashes of grenadine, Baileys, and Angostura Bitters, then garnish it with edible flowers, you should be able to get fairly close to this symphony of aromas and flavors. Texturally and in complexity terms, it can compete with many luxury cuvées from CdP with ease that cost triple.

The Domaine goes back “only” two centuries and has never left the hands of the Ay family. In 1971 it was Francois Ay who pushed the authorities to finally elevate Gigondas to Cru status, par with the more famous neighbor. Now the grandkids and current winemakers, Anne-Sophie and Christophe, reap the benefits.

Essentially a single vineyard, comprised of 3 consecutive micro-terroirs, or lieux-dits as the French call them, Le Colombier, Le Péage, and les Terres: “mostly a mix of clay, limestone and sand, and there are few estates in Gigondas able to claim such a homogenous terroir” per Jeb again.

Multiple critics agree, this is one of the Southern Rhône’s very best wines in 2021, while it lasts!

93-95 Points – Vinous “Domaine Raspail-Ay is a historic and benchmark estate, that owns 18 hectares in Gigondas. The Domaine has often made wines that are in the upper tier of the appellation in certain vintages. But it has really been solidifying its position in the top drawer only in recent vintages. That can be directly attributed to the 1998 arrival of Christophe and Anne-Sophie Ay to work with their hugely respected and influential father, Dominique. The fruit is destemmed, and only concrete vats, 600-liter oak casks and large, neutral foudres are used here. The wine is bottled with no fining and a light, delicate filtration. It’s always nice to see an icon live up to its reputation. Deep, brilliant ruby-red. Finely detailed, mineral- and spice-accented raspberry, cherry and oral scents are complicated by botanical herb and white pepper notes. Appealingly sweet and energetic on the palate, its intense red fruit, lavender and spice-cake flavors pick up smokiness on the back half. Silky, well-knit tannins frame a smooth, impressively long finish that leaves behind red berry liqueur and floral notes.”

94 Points – Wine Enthusiast “The nose is a feast and hunger-inducing, reminiscent of takeout night of roasted duck in plum sauce, beef lo mein, roasted cherries, hoisin, five-spice, thyme—mouthwatering in the best way possible. The palate is round and velvety, with plush tannins, and vibrant acidity that elongates a finish of dark cherry, spice, and violets. I’d order this again, no question.”

93 Points – Decanter “Raspail Ay is one of the most celebrated, traditional Gigondas estates. Owner Dominique Ay has now been joined by his son Christophe and daughter Anne-Sophie. The vines average 40 years old and are a mix of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. The grapes are 100% destemmed, vinified in cement tanks and aged in a mix of foudres and “cuves béton”. The wines are never fined and rarely filtered. These are wines packed with fruit, and age admirably. Round, ripe, juicy and powerful fruit for a 2021. Driving fruit and texture, with the vintage’s signature dry, herbal austerity. Very tannic, so wait, but should take on complexity in time. A single unbroken plot near the village of Gigondas, all destemmed and fermented in concrete, matured in old foudres for 18-24 months. No special cuvées, just a single wine produced from this Domaine. Drink 2026-2033.”