Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas Les Souteyrades 2022
St. Damien was an early Christian saint martyred in the year 287 A.D.. Later he was considered the patron saint of doctors. There was a chapel dedicated to his honor in the tiny hamlet of La Baumette, just outside the village of Gigondas, where Joel Saurel lives. M. Saurel's predecessors took the name Saint Damien for the domaine. Domaine St. Damien's cuvées of Gigondas have become the reference for classic full-bodied yet fine Gigondas, with consistent and high scores for every vintage. Almost as popular as their high-scoring Gigondas cuvées, are the Côtes-du-Rhône bottlings, considered for their intense concentration and tremendous value. Harvests are later and yields are low. Joel's son, Romain is becoming more and more involved in the winemaking. Their goal is to produce Gigondas expressive of terroir, tradition, length and balance-in short, the best of Gigondas.
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Varietal Composition | Grenache, Mourvedre |
| Appellation | Gigondas |
| Vineyard | Les Souteyrades |
| Alcohol | 15.00% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Country of Origin | FRANCE |
| State of Origin | N/A |
| Artificially Carbonated | No |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
95-97 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "Roughly 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre from a clay-rich, north-facing site, the 2022 Gigondas les Souteyrades doesn't seem to have suffered from the heat of the vintage. Fresh red raspberries weave through its intriguing aromas, which include hints of garrigue and dried spices. In the mouth, it's full-bodied and concentrated yet silky and elegant on the lingering finish. Drink: 2025-2040. (5/16/24)"
94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Always the most exotic of the trio from Saint-Damien, the 2022 Gigondas Les Souteyrades reveals a vivid ruby hue as well as floral, peppery nuances all wrapped around a core of sweet red fruits. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins, just about flawless balance, and a great finish. It's another beautiful wine that I'd be thrilled to own. (12/5/24)"
