Dom Palon Gigondas 21

Change is one of the simultaneously fascinating and challenging aspects of the wine business. I can handle vintage changes — most well-run properties roll nicely and almost seamlessly along with the changing vintages. Pricing and availability changes are a fact of life with wine; you just get used to it. Ownership change is another story altogether, and I'm inevitably petrified when I hear that one of my favorite personally sourced properties is changing hands. Such was the news from Domaine Palon during my last visit to the property.

I first visited Domaine Palon ten years ago with one of my broker friends, and after meeting the owners, Sébastien and Marie-Line Palon, I knew I wanted to work with this property. Sébastien and Marie-Line were an absolute joy and exuded pride and competence when speaking of their wines. The wines were simply outstanding and surprisingly very reasonably priced.

Over the years, Sébastien and Marie-Line's wines have remained solid AWM Customer and staff favorites. Our visit to the Domaine during the 2017 AWM Customer Field Trip to the South of France was one of the trip's high points! Needless to say, I was saddened and concerned when I heard the property was for sale.

During my last visit with Sébastien and Marie-Line back in 2018, Sébastien informed us that he and Marie-Line had to sell their estate due to health concerns. He was quick to say that he was sure we would be happy with the prospective buyers, and he felt that his family's estate would be in good hands. I was inclined to agree with Sébastien; the buyer was the family who owned the venerable Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Château Malijay. The Palon family Domaine, indeed, was going to remain in good hands!

The 2019 vintage was the first of two transitional vintages for the estate, with Sébastien and Marie-Line working closely with the winemaking team from Château Malijay. It was a hugely successful collaboration, and I'm happy to say that for the 2019 release, it was impossible to perceive any difference in quality or style.

For many years, Gigondas was one of the ultimate insider secrets of the Rhône Valley. Travelers to the region instantly fell in love with the quaint, picturesque village and enjoyed discovering stunning wines with a lineage of quality dating back to Roman times. However, wine from this previously under-priced and under-rated region has been widely discovered in recent years. Currently, it sports a price tag similar to most bottles of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The 1200 hectares of vineyards in Gigondas are situated just east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the shadow of the rugged Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. The wines in Gigondas are similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, featuring the same silky, plummy dark red fruit, peppery notes, and classic Rhône Valley structure that allows for immediate enjoyment and cellaring potential. Grenache is king here, with 80% required in the blend and a minimum of 15% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre.

Palon Gigondas is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah & 5% Mourvèdre grown on a mixture of clay and calcaire soils topped with small, polished riverbed stones. The Grenache is vinified and aged in stainless steel, while the Mourvèdre and Syrah were aged in large wooden foudré. An intoxicating nose of sappy black fruits and leather introduces a powerful palate of dark berry, brimming with loads of spice, olive tapenade, and garrigue.

Don't miss this one if you're a fan of the robust reds from the South of France. It's a terrific companion for grilled meats, stews, ragouts, and your favorite steaks and chops.