Clos Léopold Gigondas 2021

This wine is named after winemaker Julien Mazaloubaud’s grandfather, Léopold, who planted a vineyard in a remote corner of the spectacular Dentelles mountains in the 1960s. For decades the fruit was sold to the local cooperative. When Julien started working there himself in 2002, he noticed the amazing fruit coming in from his grandfather’s vineyard - only for it to be lost in huge blends destined for the supermarkets. There’s good reason why the fruit was so good. Clos Léopold is one of Gigondas’ highest vineyards at 350m, and it’s north-facing too. It means there’s a big difference between day- and night-time temperatures, and the vineyards are in the shade from the scorching late afternoon sun. The result is fruit with a cooler profile - almost more northern Rhône than southern - full of pepper, vibrant fruit and violets. Julien finally left the cooperative and started Clos Léopold in 2017, to do justice to his grandfather’s legacy. Today it’s a tiny, artisanal domaine where everything is done by hand. This wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, vinified and aged mainly in concrete tanks, with around 10% aged in small oak barrels. It’s a more restrained and elegant style of Gigondas, which I love. You get lots of dark fruit, violets and garrigue on the nose, with layers of spice and complexity on the palate, and a long, delicious, peppery finish. Clos Léopold still flies under the radar, appreciated mainly by local winemakers and insiders in the know. As a WineSpark member, you can now count yourself among them with exclusive access to this wine!