Dear *|FNAME|*,

Stand up for Santa Duc, one of the finest producers in Gigondas. Their elegant and complex high-altitude, Grenache-based blends from the Southern Rhône are worldclass, and we back them as one of the best.

Yves Gras’ tireless work put Domaine Santa Duc, est. 1847, and the Gigondas appellation on the map after he took over in 1985. His son Benjamin, the sixth generation, took the helm in 2017, ‘pushing quality even higher’ with wines of ‘markedly greater finesse’, writes Josh Raynolds of Vinous.

For the first time, we’re offering their Côtes-du-Rhône Les Quatre Terres. It’s a blend from four terroirs and the 2022 is pure, red fruited and mineral with lavender, violets and garrigue on the nose, along with fine tannins. Their 2020 Gigondas Aux Lieux Dits is so complex, intensely aromatic, energetic and deep fruited, with rooibos tea-like tannins and a lush, never-ending finish. It remains one of my favourite red wines year on year and is an absolute banker. Finally, to me their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Habemus Papam has never been better. From 2020, it’s layered and impeccably balanced with red and black fruit, lots of spice, dried herbs, and elegant tannins.

Gigondas has cemented itself as the region to watch in the Rhône, offering remarkable quality across the price spectrum. As for their Châteauneufs, ‘It will hurt some feelings to say an outsider like Gras is producing some of the most compelling examples of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but keep in mind these are generally tiny-production gems and not easy to track down,’ says Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate.

The average vine age is 40-75 years and all of Santa Duc's vines and wines are organic and biodynamically certified, a process which Yves began back in the eighties.

These are some of the most beautiful reds to come out of the Southern Rhône. Poised, balanced, precise and well-crafted – we love them, and so will you.

Reply to this email or visit our website to place your order online.

Tasting notes

Santa Duc Gigondas Aux Lieux Dits 2020

'Brilliant ruby. Intensely perfumed, mineral- and spice-driven aromas of ripe red and blue fruit and potpourri show sharp definition; suggestions of woodsmoke and incense build in the glass. Shows outstanding depth as well as energy on the palate, offering powerful raspberry, kirsch and floral pastille flavors and a strong note of exotic spices. It finishes with an alluring sweetness and harmonious tannins that lend shape to a wonderfully long, spice- and floral-accented finish.' – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 95-96/100

Santa Duc Châteauneuf-du-Pape Habemus Papam 2020

'A pure nose exuding perfectly ripe red fruit, enveloped by black plum, violet and green peppercorn. The palate is immediately greeted with a rush of acidity, rolling in a wave of black cherry, thyme stem, violets, iris, clove and black tea. Though currently a bit wound, it should shine with impressive nuances with additional time in bottle. Undeniably irresistible.' – Wine Enthusiast, 95/100

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