2018 Domaine Les Pallières Terrasse du Diable Gigondas

Take Domaine Les Pallières, one of the most famed properties in Gigondas, and add the talents of the Brunier brothers from Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s iconic Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe, plus American importer Kermit Lynch. The result? According to Vinous, wines that are “among the best of the appellation and, in fact, the entire southern Rhône Valley.”

All that star power comes to fruition in the 2018 Domaine Les Pallières Terrasse du Diable Gigondas, a sensational wine that Rhône expert Jeb Dunnuck called a “no-brainer Gigondas.” It’s is a wild, powerful red that shows not only why Lynch and the Bruniers sought out this one-of-a-kind terroir, but why Gigondas is gaining on Châteauneuf-du-Pape for Southern Rhône supremacy.

The Bruniers and savvy Rhône shoppers know that Gigondas’ best sites boast terroir that could easily be mistaken for its famous (and much pricier) neighbor, producing equally rich and energetic wines. The 2018 Terrasse du Diable shows one of those special domaines in the hands of two Rhône legends, and to get this kind of character in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, you’d likely pay twice as much.

Grown on 45-year-old vines, it swirls with aromas of wild cherries and strawberries, underpinned by notes of balsam, smoked meat, leather, cracked pepper, and crushed stones. Rich, balanced, and fresh on the palate, it finishes with spice and mineral depth carried on stony tannins. 

A decade after Lynch and the Bruniers bought Pallières, they divided the property—which had previously been producing a single red wine—into two lieux-dits, in order to better express its unique terroirs. Consisting of low-yielding vines planted on the higher portions of the property, Terrasse du Diable shows the gorgeous structure and intense minerality that are trademarks of great Gigondas.

The 2018 comes in at 90% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Clairette, and packs a charge that reminds us of why we fell in love with the Rhône. Displaying the minerality bestowed by the high, rocky ground, this is a fantastic wine of spiced red fruit and a rich, full body. It will absolutely dazzle fans of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and other beautifully ripened reds.

Look no further to understand why Gigondas is an endless source of fascination for red wine lovers, why the Bruniers are regarded as some of the greatest vignerons in France, and why they had to have this special terroir. This is not a bottle you want to miss.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 14.50%
• 30 mins
• Now – 2035
• 90% Grenache5% Clairette5% Mourvèdre
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork