Domaine du Cayron 2010 Gigondas ($34.99)Clear dark garnet shading to a clear edge. Pleasant Rhone aromas, berries and leather and dried mixed herbs, leading into a dry, tart and tannic flavor with hints of clay and stony minerality. It carries its 14% alcohol well. It's 70% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 14% Syrah and 1% Mourvedre. U.S. importer: Vanguard Wines LLC, Columbus, Ohio. (Jan. 9, 2014)
FOOD MATCH: GSM is made to accompany rare red meat, steak or roast, beef or lamb, game or even grilled poultry or duck. It works well, too, with plant-based dishes brought up to meet a red; it was a big winner with a "meaty" red-lentil curry with browned onions and lima beans.
WHEN TO DRINK: Great vintages of Gigondas - including 2010 - can last for 20 years or more, assuming, always, excellent and undisturbed cellar conditions around 55F (13C). It was really a shame to drink this one so young, although as noted, the strategy of setting it aside in the recorked bottle for several days did make it more approachable.
VALUE: Gigondas isn't a cheap wine, but it falls into the "sweet spot" where higher price purchases memorable wine worth contemplating or cellaring for the future. That said, my local $35 price tag was a bit dear, as Wine-Searcher.com reports a $30 median for Cayron Gigondas with some vendors offering it for $25.
http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Cayro ... g_site=WLPWEB LINK: Here's a short report on Domaine du Cayron, with links to fact sheets on the 2010 and 2011 Gigondas, from regional importer Michael Skurnik Wines.
http://www.skurnikwines.com/prospects.c ... ect_id=638FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Find vendors and compare prices for Domaine du Cayron Gigondas on Wine-Searcher.com.
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http://www.wine-searcher.com/grape-577- ... g_site=WLP