Synopsis, Our Opinion: Nothing short of OUTSTANDING.
Producer/Winery: Henri Leydier; Domaine de Durban; Beaumes-de-Venise, France.
Grape Variety: Blend – 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah.
Geographic Appellation,, Region, Country: Gigondas; Southern Rhône, France.
Vintage: 2018
Price: $25.20 (with a 10% mixed case discount)
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Paired With: Chicken kabobs with Mediterranean spices, basmati rice and onion and pepper stir fry
Tasting:
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Opened 90-minutes before drinking. Opaque, inky dark purple color with a slightly lighter rim. Old dry wood, blackberry and cherry aromas. Smooth entry, very rich, dusty and bold mouthfeel, medium to full body and a 150-grit texture. Bountiful earthy and ripe flavors of cherry, plum, bitters and peppery spice all wrapped around a light mineral taste. “PERFECTLY” balanced fresh acidity, smooth tannins with just a little grip in the long bitter and sumptuous fruit, spicy and mineral finish. I bought this wine because Kermit Lynch described it as follows: “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 and retailing for under thirty dollars, it is ounce for ounce one of the best bargains in our book, and perhaps from the entire region.” It is that and MUCH more. From the first sniff as the bottle is opened to the last sip it was a very special wine. Lots of body, filled with layers of rich flavors and a balance that puts a blue ribbon around the whole thing. We liked it so much we immediately called our local wine shop and ordered it by the case…something we rarely do. We called it nothing short of OUTSTANDING…it was one of those very special wines that just blew us away it was so good!!!
Photo from Domaine de Durban.
See our reviews of other Domaine de Durban wines.
Alcohol Content: 14.5%
Closure: Aluminum covered 45mm Natural cork.
UPC Code: 7 61503 63535 8
Imported by: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant; Berkeley, California.