Domaine Bertrand Stehelin
Gigondas Red Rhone Blend
Gigondas, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Nose has extremely dark berry fruit, loads of low-toned cracked rock. In the mouth it’s pretty highly extracted, with dark fruit and dark mineral flavors. But they’re a bit overmatched by an astringent scorchy streak. Bitter on the finish. Yet another disappointing southern Rhône. It’s odd to me that modern critics don’t seem to mind how foursquare, blocky, and monolithic southern Rhônes have become since, say, 2003. Maybe my repeated recent disappointment is because the benchmarks I have for these wines was set in the 80s, when they seemed (at least in my memory) to have more life, acidity, and transparency. They were big, yes, but they possessed more elegance to accompany their relative large size.
Nose has extremely dark berry fruit, loads of low-toned cracked rock. In the mouth it’s pretty highly extracted, with dark fruit and dark mineral flavors. But they’re a bit overmatched by an astringent scorchy streak. Bitter on the finish. Yet another disappointing southern Rhône. It’s odd to me that modern critics don’t seem to mind how foursquare, blocky, and monolithic southern Rhônes have become since, say, 2003. Maybe my repeated recent disappointment is because the benchmarks I have for these wines was set in the 80s, when they seemed (at least in my memory) to have more life, acidity, and transparency. They were big, yes, but they possessed more elegance to accompany their relative large size.
Aug 8th, 2021
A little thin and old world for my tastes.
A little thin and old world for my tastes.
May 8th, 2015
Feral notes behind tightly woven dark plum, earth. Impressive long finish
Feral notes behind tightly woven dark plum, earth. Impressive long finish
Mar 17th, 2015Dark purple color. Grape jelly nose. Dark dry tannic. Still a tight wine but real quality here $33.99
Dark purple color. Grape jelly nose. Dark dry tannic. Still a tight wine but real quality here $33.99
Mar 1st, 2014
Roan wine class. Outstanding. Not fruit forward but not overly Tanic either. Smooth, subtle pallet. rich but not to earthy.
Roan wine class. Outstanding. Not fruit forward but not overly Tanic either. Smooth, subtle pallet. rich but not to earthy.
May 6th, 2020
Smooth, maybe a touch too light in body
Smooth, maybe a touch too light in body
Dec 11th, 2019
Super smooth wine, no hint of acid. A bit light but I’m not complaining
Super smooth wine, no hint of acid. A bit light but I’m not complaining
Nov 9th, 2019