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What We Say 2005 Jocunda Gigondas AOC
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
Today’s selection from Oriel Wines,made by one of the most esteemed winemakers in France (Louis Barroul of Chateau de Saint Cosme) is a fantastic wine of great elegance and finesse. If you are a fan of Rhone classics, this wine belongs in you cellar and on your table.
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Mission Codename: Joyfully Celebrated
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Secure a top notch Gigondas for our operatives.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Oriel Wines
Wine Subject: 2005 Jocunda Gigondas AOC
Winemaker: Louis Barruol
Backgrounder:
The Gigondas AOC is located just across the river from the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation and adjacent to the famed villages of Lirac and Tavel. Under the watchful eye of the dramatically rugged Dentelles de Montmirail, known for its lacy look and not teeth as most visitors assume (Dentelle means lace, dents means teeth in French).
The wines of Gigondas must be made with no more than 80% Grenache, at least 15% of Syrah and Mourvedre with the remainder being no more than 10% of any local grape except Carignan.
Today fantastic wine, from Oriel Wines and winemaker Louis Barruol, is 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Stunningly dark purple with garnet tints that barely shine though its clear but dense core. A slightly lighter shade of garnet along the edges and when swirled, tightly spaced tears that fatten as the descend ring the glass.
Smell – Both aromatic but also restrained with a classic old world nose that balances dark fruit of plum and both black and red cherry, smokey and toasted oak, fresh and savory garden herbs, spice and earthy undertones.
Feel – Crushed velvet smooth and finely textured attack, this full bodied wine is dry and very well balanced with supple but firm tannins, dusty minerality and amble acidity holds everything together.
Taste – Ripe red and black fruit including red cherry, blackberry, plum and other dark fruit lead the way and are framed by all the complexity found on the nose, but especially its savory herbs, smokey oak and earthy undertones. A touch of cedar and spice box and sweet tobacco adds further depth.
Finish – Very clean and medium long with the ripe red fruit fading first leaving behind textural notes that lingers with the other complex flavors of this wine.
Conclusion – The 2005 Oriel Wines Jocunda Gigondas AOC is a fantastic old-world wine that shows great finesse and elegance. A classic nose and flavor profile with a structure that holds everything together. Restrained and balanced, layers of aromas and flavors that reveal themselves slowly and deliberately. A great food wine to pair with herb roasted chicken, pork loin or with aged hard cheeses. Enjoy this wine tonight or cellar for the next five years, that is if you have the patience.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of the Gigondas AOC can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Oriel Wines
Awards & Accolades:
91 Points – Wine Spectator – A restrained, aromatic style, with lots of spice box, tobacco and incense notes leading the way for blackberry, currant, braised beef and tar notes. The finish really gains steam, with nice riveting acidity underneath. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Made by Louis Barruol St.-Cosme. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases made
91 Points – Wine Enthusiast – This is a creamy-textured, dense blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. It delivers plum-scented fruit accented by baking spices and licorice and balancing its tannic heft with ample length. Drink now-2018
About This Wine:
Jocunda, meaning joyful, is derived from Jocunditas, the old Roman name for Gigondas—celebrated by Pliny in the First century.
Aroma: Ripe black fruit with hints of sage, rosemary and thyme.
Taste: Rich blackcurrant and mulberry with sweet tannins and a persistent finish.
Vineyards & Winemaking: Mediterranean limestone soils lend a bold character and allow for slow maturation. Hand picked, macerated and aged for 6 months—half in stainless steel and half in oak.
About The Winery:
Oriel is a completely new kind of wine company—on a mission to help you enjoy handmade wines from around the globe!
Unbeatable Value: By cutting out the middlemen and never owning vineyards, Oriel can offer a $25 wine for $15, or a $45 wine for $25. This is because wine prices are actually driven by overheads and marketing more than by the costs of grapes and winemaking.
Critical Acclaim: Oriel wines are served in hundreds of America’s top restaurants and retailers and have earned acclaim from all the top critics and press. Oriel’s rapidly growing fan base extends from Usher and Teri Hatcher all the way through to the White House…!
The World’s Greatest Winemakers: Oriel wines are made by some of the world’s most celebrated winemakers who have made some of the greatest wines on earth—from Petrus to Penfold’s Grange—they are truly excited about helping you to discover great handmade wines from around the globe.
An Unmatched Guarantee of Quality: Unlike traditional wineries, Oriel has no obligation to make wines in poor vintages so we don’t—simple! This means we only make wines in good vintages and have absolute confidence in every bottle—guaranteed. No other winery on earth can say that.
Unique Wines of Character: Oriel wines are handmade in miniscule quantities, because making great wine is like making great food—to make a little with the very best ingredients is possible, to make a lot is not. Oriel wines are made especially for us, just a few barrels at a time, and express the distinct characters of the vineyards they come from—open a bottle and take a trip..
About The Winemaker:
Louis Barruol – Louis Barruol is part of the generation of young winemakers from the Rhône Valley who have breathed new life into their old family estates and rapidly improved the quality of the wines. The Barruol family has a long heritage in winemaking and has been involved with the Château de St. Cosme vineyard since 1490.
After a classical university course, Louis was taught winemaking and viticulture by his experienced father and took over the family estate in 1997. Louis adopted traditional techniques of long, slow maceration, natural yeast, barrel fermentation, and bottling wines unfiltered for maximum flavor and intensity. He has a passion for working with old vines, cultivating extremely small yields, and waiting patiently for full ripening and flavor development. Barruol’s wines are ageworthy and powerful, fully expressing the terroir of the historic Rhône region.
As a testament to Barroul’s winemaking skills, many of his wines have been consistently rated 90+ pts. Robert Parker affirms, “The young Louis Barruol has quickly emerged as one of the southern Rhone’s most talented young winemakers.”
Technical Analysis:
Varietals: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre.
Harvest: October 10, 2005.
Alcohol: 14.5%
