Ce qu’en dit la presse…
ROBERT PARKER
THE WINE ADVOCATE, Inc. (2021)
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 91-93
The 2019 Gigondas Classique Vieilles Vignes shows a touch of cedary oak on the nose-nothing obtrusive, but enough to notice alongside the black cherries and subtle garrigue notes.
Full-bodied and generous, with a smooth, silky feel on the palate, it ends with a gentle wash of dusty tannins and an attractive hint of licorice.
Les Souteyrades
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 93-95
Not as effusive on the nose as the La Louisiane, the 2019 Gigondas les Souteyrades is drier, sterner stuff-not as immediately approachable, with more savory notes of black olives and earth. There are still notes of ripe plums and raspberries in this full-bodied effort but also a firm core of dusty tannins to ensure more than a decade of longevity. It’s a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre from a clay-rich, northfacing slope.
Clovis Saurel
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 95-97
Aged in demi-muids, the 2019 Gigondas Clovis Saurel is a selection of old-vine Grenache and Mourvèdre from clay soils.
Compared with the other wines in the lineup, the cedar and vanilla shadings are noticeable but in other contexts wouldn’t be considered obtrusive. Notes of ripe plum, black cherry, blueberry, black olive and licorice predominate. Full-bodied and velvety, this is plusher and richer on the palate than the other cuvées at Saint Damien, with a generous, lingering finish.
Flat-out yummy now, it also has the potential to age well for a decade or more.
La Louisiane
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 94-96
The 2019 Gigondas La Louisiane hails from a south-facing slope of clay and sand and is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah and Cinsault, all aged in foudre.
Loaded with black cherries and mixed berries, it’s a big, fullbodied effort that drinks surprisingly well already yet has the concentration, length and structure that should enable it to age another 15 years or more.
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Plan de Dieu
Rating: 90-92
An 80-20 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre, the 2019 Cotes du Rhone Villages Plan de Dieu Vieilles Vignes is an excellent option for consumers who don’t want to spend the extra money for the Saurel family’s Gigondas bottlings. The garrigue on the nose is a bit more subtle than normal this year, with the bulk of the aromatics being super ripe cherries and berries.
Full-bodied and intense, with a helping of firm tannins that keep the jamminess in check, it finishes dusty and savory, with ample length. This is a big wine, yet one I suspect will mature relatively quickly; drink it over the next 5-6 years.
La Bouveau
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Côtes du Rhône
Rating: 89-91
The medium to full-bodied 2019 Cotes du Rhone la Bouveau boasts impressive aromas of black olives, blueberries, plums and ground clove. Supple and expansive on the palate, with ample concentration and just enough ripe tannins to give it shape, drink this Syrah-based cuvée over the next few years.
JEB DUNNUCK
La Bouveau
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Côtes du Rhône
Rating: 89-91 – Drink: 2020-2027
The Côtes du Rhône from this terrific estate is always worth a look. The 2019 Côtes du Rhône La Bouveau is a rich, full-bodied effort with a dense purple hue as well as classic Southern Rhône notes of ground pepper, earthy garrigue, and red and black fruits. This mouthfilling, opulent beauty is going to shine for 4-5 years at a minimum.
La Bouveau
Domaine Saint Damien | 2020 | Côtes du Rhône
Rating: 90 – Drink: 2022-2026
A great Côtes du Rhône readers should seek out, the 2020 La Bouveau is up-front, balanced, and ready to go, with the purity and freshness of the vintage as well as lots of Southern Rhône character in its garrigue, pepper, strawberry, and black raspberry aromas and flavors. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years or so.
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Plan de Dieu
Rating: 90-92 – Drink: 2020-2027
The 2019 Plan de Dieu Vieilles Vignes has considerably more elegance and finesse compared to the richer, more opulent La Bouveau and gives up beautiful notes of black cherries, raspberries, flowers, and peppery garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, silky and just beautifully balanced, this is a no brainer Southern Rhône to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years as well.
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2020 | Plan de Dieu
Rating: 89-92
Not yet bottled, the 2020 Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan De Dieu Vieilles Vignes offers darker cherry and blackberry-like fruits as well as textbook Southern Rhône pepper, garrigue, and spice. It’s ripe, seamless, and undeniably delicious.
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 96
Moving to the 2019s, this is a great vintage for this estate, and all of the wines showed brilliantly. The 2019 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is its usual 80/20 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre and has awesome dark fruits, ground pepper, licorice, truffle, and earthy mineral-like aromas and flavors. I love its mid-palate, it has elegance as well as power, ripe tannins, and a great finish. I finished my note with “Wow.”
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2020 | Gigondas
Rating: 95-97
Looking at the Gigondas releases, the 2020 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes doesn’t give anything to the two single vineyard releases and offers awesome aromatics, full-bodied richness, a round, lush, yet pure mouthfeel, and ripe yet certainly present tannins. It’s loaded with Provençal, garrigue, and peppery goodness, and it’s going to be a brilliant value. This cuvée is an 80/20 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre raised all in foudre.
Les Souteyrades
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 96 – Drink: 2023-2038
Lastly, the 2019 Gigondas Les Souteyrades is more classic, with pure dark, peppery fruits as well as garrigue, cedar, and leather notes. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, it has impressive tannins and will benefit from short-term bottle age. As with the other Gigondas here, you should expect 10-15 years of prime drinking. This cuvée is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre, aged all in foudre.
Les Souteyrades
Domaine Saint Damien | 2020 | Gigondas
Rating: 94-96
The 2020 Gigondas Les Souteyrades is more structured, with notable acidity as well as tannins. Full-bodied aromas and flavors of blackberries, cassis, ground pepper, and violets give way to a rich, concentrated, focused Gigondas that’s going to benefit from a handful of years in the cellar. All of these 2020 barrel samples are brilliant.
La Louisiane
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 97 – Drink: 2022-2037
I think the standout of the three Gigondas is the 2019 Gigondas La Louisiane. This ripe, exotic, yet incredibly pure Gigondas offers incredible character and depth with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Wild strawberries, blueberries, mint, peppery herbs, and garrigue are just some of the nuances, and it has silky tannins and a full-bodied, powerful style that will evolve for 10-15 years.
La Louisiane
Domaine Saint Damien | 2020 | Gigondas
Rating: 94-96
The 2020 Gigondas La Louisiane is also just about overflowing with Provençal charm and character, offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of red and black fruits, ground pepper, violets, and orange blossom. It too is seamless, has ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. The blend is 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault and Syrah.
Clovis Saurel
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 96 – Drink: 2025-2036
Gorgeous stuff, the 2019 Gigondas Clovis Saurel is reminscent of Grand Cru Red Burgundy grown in the south. A selection of older vines of Grenache and Mourvèdre, it offers an elegant, medium to full-bodied style that just glides across the palate with silky, ultra-fine tannins, and perfect balance, and while it’s not massive, it builds beautifully with time in the glass and has plenty of structure and length. More red-fruited aromatically, with notes of wild strawberries, framboise, Provençal garrigue, wildflowers, and hints of white pepper, it’s complex, layered, nuanced, and just a joy to drink. It’s approachable today but truly needs 4-5 years of bottle age. It should drink fabulously well over the following decade.
Clovis Saurel
Domaine Saint Damien | 2020 | Gigondas
Rating: 94-97
All Grenache aged in demi-muid, the 2020 Gigondas Clovis Saurel is certainly more modern in style, but it never loses its Southern Rhône soul. It has complex Provençal garrigue, spice box, cherry, and peppery aromas and flavors as well as a deep, rich, broad mouthfeel.
VINOUS
Gigondas Rosé
Domaine Saint Damien | 2019 | Gigondas
Rating: 92 – Drink: 2020-2022
Glistening orange. Expansive red berry, pi fruit and orange zest scents, along with building floraland mineral accents. Juicy and seamless in the mouth, offering concentrated raspberry, nectarine honeysuckle flavors that are braced by a spine of tangy minerality. The pit and berry fruit notes carry through a spice-tinged finish that hangs with strong tenacity.
ROBERT PARKER
THE WINE ADVOCATE, Inc. (Dec 2013)
Le Dix de Saint Damien
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Vin de France
Rating: 87-88 – Drink: 2013-2017
Moving the non-Gigondas releases, the 2012 Le Dix de Saint Damien should be a superb value with its medium-bodied, soft, supple and fruit-driven style. Giving up plenty of earth and minerality, as well as
loads of juicy berry fruit, drink it over the coming 3-4 years.
Located on the lower, flatter portion of the appellation and one of the top estates in Gigondas, Domaine Saint-Damien is run by the talented Joel Saurel. In addition to the Gigondas cuvees, he also produces a bevy of high-quality Côtes-du-Rhônes. While the style here doesn’t skimp on fruit, the wines are traditionally made and show beautiful southern Rhone typicity. They also represent incredible values and readers need to get on this estate’s bandwagon!
La Bouveau
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Côtes du Rhône
Rating: 88-91 – Drink: 2013-2017
The most impressive of the three is the 2012 Cotes du Rhone La Bouveau. A blend of mostly Grenache, it possesses ample raspberry, wild herbs, garrigue and crushed rock-like minerality in its medium-bodied, focused and impressively concentrated character. Possibly outstanding, with loads of southern Rhone flair, enjoy this beauty over the coming 3-4 years or so.
Located on the lower, flatter portion of the appellation and one of the top estates in Gigondas, Domaine Saint-Damien is run by the talented Joel Saurel. In addition to the Gigondas cuvees, he also produces a bevy of high-quality Côtes-du-Rhônes. While the style here doesn’t skimp on fruit, the wines are traditionally made and show beautiful southern Rhone typicity. They also represent incredible values and readers need to get on this estate’s bandwagon!
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Côtes du Rhône
Rating: 89 – Drink: 2013-2016
Already in bottle, the 2012 Cotes du Rhone exhibits knockout notes of roasted herbs, ripe red and black fruits, licorice and spice to go with a medium-bodied, sweetly fruited, upfront and decidedly delicious profile. Quaffable in the best sense of the word, buy it in multiple bottle lots and enjoy it over the coming couple of years.Located on the lower, flatter portion of the appellation and one of the top estates in Gigondas, Domaine Saint-Damien is run by the talented Joel Saurel. In addition to the Gigondas cuvees, he also produces a bevy of high-quality Cotes du Rhones. While the style here doesn’t skimp on fruit, the wines are traditionally made and show beautiful southern Rhone typicity. They also represent incredible values and readers need to get on this estate’s bandwagon!
La Louisiane
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Gigondas
Rating: 93-95 – Drink: 2013-2023
Slightly richer and my favorite of the ‘12s, with full-bodied depth and richness, the 2012 Gigondas Louisiane delivers classic spice-box, licorice, herbs, ground pepper and sweet Grenache driven fruit in a seamless, sexy and textured package. It shows the purity of the vintage, yet has knockout richness and fruit. Drink it over the coming decade.
Located on the lower, flatter portion of the appellation and one of the top estates in Gigondas, Domaine Saint-Damien is run by the talented Joel Saurel. In addition to the Gigondas cuvees, he also produces a bevy of high-quality Cotes du Rhones. While the style here doesn’t skimp on fruit, the wines are traditionally made and show beautiful southern Rhone typicity. They also represent incredible values and readers need to get on this estate’s bandwagon!
Les Souteyrades
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Gigondas
Rating: 92-94 – Drink: 2013-2028
The 2012 Gigondas Souteyrades is a perfumed, elegant version of the cuvee and exhibits classic berry fruit, spice-box, licorice and wild herb aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, pure, layered and textured, with building richness and fine tannin, it should be reasonably approachable on release, yet age gracefully for 12-15 years.
Located on the lower, flatter portion of the appellation and one of the top estates in Gigondas, Domaine Saint-Damien is run by the talented Joel Saurel. In addition to the Gigondas cuvees, he also produces a bevy of high-quality Côtes-du-Rhônes. While the style here doesn’t skimp on fruit, the wines are traditionally made and show beautiful southern Rhone typicity. They also represent incredible values and readers need to get on this estate’s bandwagon!
Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Gigondas
Rating: 92-94 – Drink: 2013-2025
Looking at Saurel’s 2012s, the 2012 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is a medium to full-bodied, awesomely textured effort that reveals loads of black raspberry, licorice and ground herbs. Already approachable, it nevertheless has fine tannin, beautiful mid-palate depth and impressive balance. It should impress for 10-12 years.
Located on the lower, flatter portion of the appellation and one of the top estates in Gigondas, Domaine Saint-Damien is run by the talented Joel Saurel. In addition to the Gigondas cuvees, he also produces a bevy of high-quality Cotes du Rhones. While the style here doesn’t skimp on fruit, the wines are traditionally made and show beautiful southern Rhône typicity. They also represent incredible values and readers need to get on this estate’s bandwagon!
ROBERT PARKER
THE WINE ADVOCATE, Inc. (Oct 2009)
« I was blown away by how the 2007 Gigondas cuvees, which I had rated very highly from barrel last year, had put on weight and texture, and had become essentially as compelling as Gigondas can be.Clearly SaintDamien’s young proprietor, Joel Saurel, has moved this estate alongside the appellation’s two superstars, Domaine Santa Duc and Chateau SaintCosme. The three cuvees of 2007 Gigondas are absolutely profound. I am not sure I haven’t underrated them as I had them on two separate occasions and the numerical scores listed are actually from the lower rated tasting. Come what may, these are unreal wines. For statisticians, these wines are aged 68 weeks in cement tanks before they are moved to old wood foudres for 12 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The renowned Philippe Cambie is the consultant. All three of these Gigondas cuvees are amazing wines. Kudos to Joel Saurel! »
JANCIS ROBINSON & JULIA HARDING MW
Gigondas 2012 vintage
Les Souteyrades
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Gigondas
Rating: 15,5 – Drink: 2016-2021
Bright crimson. Quite dramatically concentrated ripe fruit on the nose and then quite sweet and mild on the palate. Fresh and fruity. But relatively light. 15%
Les Souteyrades
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Gigondas
Rating: 15,5 – Drink: 2016-2021
Simple crimson. Rich, ripe black fruits on the nose. Astringent finish and not that much fruit weight in the mid palate. 15%
La Louisiane
Domaine Saint Damien | 2012 | Gigondas
Rating: 15,5 – Drink: 2016-2020
Mid crimson. Very rich fruit compote on the nose and then just a tad stringy on the palate. Not much intensity. 15%