This 2017 vintage will be remembered as the year of all records: the driest year in 30 years, non-interventionist vineyard work, optimal harvest conditions, a very small yield due to climatic hazards, and wines with very rich potential.Back on this very technical vintage with great potential. 2017 began with a particularly dry and mild winter, resulting in a precocious vine. After a sudden drop in temperatures in the early spring with severe frost in several areas, temperatures rose again well above seasonal averages. The flowering was fast, with important and extensive shatter on Grenache and Carignan. The vineyard, however, remained very healthy. The summer was exceptionally hot and dry, leading to a very early start of harvest in mid-August. Harvest lasted until October 5 with ideal conditions, alternating hot days and cool nights. The cellar work was very technical and precise and the first tastings reveal wines with a great potential, very well balanced and aromatic that should be among some of our best vintages.
The vines grow on limestone, calcareous marl and sandy soils, giving the Grenache immense finesse and elegance with unique aromas.
Critical Acclaim
JD 93 Jeb Dunnuck
Not yet bottled, the 2017 Gigondas La Gille offers a beautiful bouquet of savory red fruits, potpourri, dried flowers, and violets. Incredibly elegant, fine, and polished on the palate, it shows beautiful intensity with a Burgundy-like elegance and seamlessness. Rating: 91-93
WE 93 Wine Enthusiast
In this wine hints of earth, crushed stone and restrained black cherry gain richness from nose to palate. Zesty, concentrated black-fruit flavors are backed by a firm strike of minerality and fiery, persistent tannins. This stately wine should open and improve now through 2030.
RP 92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The medium to full-bodied 2017 Gigondas La Gille comes across as slightly floral and tea-like on the nose, backed by ripe cherries. It's not as concentrated or structured as some vintages, seemingly more about harmony and drinkability. Rating: 90-92
WS 92 Wine Spectator
A bright, slightly high-pitched style, with a mix of red and black currant flavors mixed with savory, lilac and chalky mineral notes. Offers a fresh and racy feel through the finish.
Famille Perrin’s involvement in the wine trade can be traced back to 1909 with the purchase of Château de Beaucastel. Today the 5th generation of the family is involved in every aspect of the business. Famille Perrin’s range of wines enable you to discover the richness and diversity of the Southern Rhône Valley. It is no coincidence that Famille Perrin is the leading organic wine grower of the Southern Rhône Valley, where they occupy the region’s best terroirs. Their values have given them a worldwide reputation for excellence: absolute respect for the soil, a commitment to manual methods, and a deep belief that organic viticulture is the only way to express the true essence of the terroir. Nature and tradition are key to the Famille Perrin approach, which has continued seamlessly over five generations.
