Domaine du Grand Montmirail [Yves & Denis Chéron], Gigondas “Les Deux Juliette”, Vielles Vignes
NOTE: Apparently Les Deux Juliette is for the export market only, and does not seem to be available for purchase in France proper.
80% Grenache from 55 to 65-year-old vines
15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre from 30-year-old vines
Tasted over the course of six days.
2016: This is the kid sister.
Very shy & reticent. Stubbornly refused to come out of her shell over the course of the entire week.
Still in braces & sneakers & ponytails.
I couldn’t get any reading on her whatsoever.
2015: Oh my goodness! This is Big Sis. She’s ready to head off to college and have her soul corrupted & condemned.
The moment I first tasted her, I thought to myself, “This is the Frenchiest French wine I have put in my mouth in forever.”
No spoof, no rough edges, nothing vulgar or bitter or garish.
Just a joy to sip on and swallow.
Started to show a little bit of a nose around Day 3.
I got to thinking that if I had a Michelin-starred restaurant, then this would be our house red - we’d serve her by the glass and by the carafe.
She’s easily a 20 year wine.
Unfortunately, the corks were a little iffy [one of them snapped off and we had to switch over to rubber stoppers after a day or two], but if the cork holds, then she’s a 40 year wine.
I would’ve loved to have had a case of this 2015, but when I called back to the store, they only had a single bottle remaining, so sadly I’ll have to exercise some self-discipline here.
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