In the Middle Ages this Chateauneuf du Pape estate was managed by the archbishops of Avignon. A new chapter in the Chateau Gigognan’s history began in 2017, when it was acquired by entrepreneur Jean-François Hénin from Burgundy. Like his well-known agronomist father Stéphane Hénin, Jean-François had a passion for working with the grape of Mourvèdre grown in the Southern Rhone Valley. He has revitalized the property with the intent of making it “one of the flagship wineries of the southern Rhône appellations.”

The Clos du Roi vineyard is the oldest plot on the estate and is surrounded by cypress trees. This blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah is hand harvested and destemmed. The average age of the vines is 40-45 years old. The wine spends eight months in seasoned Oak barrels and stainless steel tanks before bottling. The wine starts out ruby-opaque in the glass with a hefty amount of ripe, mixed black fruits. It flaunts its extroverted personality with dark plums, boysenberry, blackberry, a dusting of dark cocoa and espresso along with a potpourri of baking spices. There are endless layers to this wine that all coalesce into a long and creamy finish.

By W Peter Hoyne