2019 Saint-Damien Gigondas

Rhône Valley · Gigondas

The Rhône is really two regions under one name. In the north, between Vienne and Valence, Syrah grows alone on steep granite terraces at Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Joseph, while Viognier makes the perfumed whites of Condrieu. Further south the valley widens and warms, and Grenache leads blends drawn from a long list of permitted varieties at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras. The two halves share a river and little else.