Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Blanc Les Prés 2023

100 % Clairette coming from the lieu-dits of La Louisianne and La Moutte both situated on the plateau quite close to the estate. Just 3 barrels produced for this first vintage. 100 % aged in barrel, 2 from Chassin cooperage, both 1 one year old, and one 228 L from Stockinger. Fresh perfumed and very pure the aromas are lifted by the ageing on lees and the very small impact of barrel. Fresh and fine.

‘The 2023 Gigondas Blanc from Domaine Saint Damien offers up aromas of spices, oak, walnuts and camphor, followed by a medium to full-bodied, pure and crystalline texture framed by bright, delicate acids and a spicy, clove finish ... this is a well-executed Gigondas Blanc.’ 91 points, Yohan Castaing, The Wine Advocate, October 2024.

'The first white from this estate, the 2023 Gigondas Blanc has a kiss of reduction as well as rock-solid aromatics of candied lemon zest, minty flowers, and honeysuckle. It's a medium-bodied, pure, elegant white that will benefit from 6-12 months of bottle age and should evolve nicely over the following 2-4 years.' 90 points, Jeb Dunnuck, May 2024.

This is the first vintage for the new appellation granted to Gigondas blanc. Clairette blanche must be minimum 70 % fermented on its own or blended with the traditional Rhone Valley grape varieties grown in Gigondas (Bourboulenc, Clairette Rose, Grenache Blanc and Gris, Marsanne, Piquepoul Blanc and Roussanne). Two secondary grape varieties, Viognier and Ugni blanc, cannot represent more than 5 % of the varietal range.

Currently, over 16 hectares have been planted with white varieties by some thirty companies, which is more than for Gigondas rosé (as per the computerised vineyard register for the 2019/2020 campaign). The dynamics and desire to move forward are tangible and a dozen or so producers aim to plant white grape varieties over the coming years, bringing the share of companies making Gigondas white wines up to 15 % in less than five years time.

The sites produce clean, chiselled wines, mirroring the huge cliff faces that jut out from the Dentelles de Montmirail, the wooded uplands surrounding the village. Limestone, the common thread between a mosaic of complex, varied soil types, imparts minerality and freshness, a major advantage in an era of global warming. On the palate, notes of linden and acacia are supported by a long acidic backbone, creating wines that are sure to appeal to lovers of terroir-driven wines mirroring the landscapes of the places where they were born.

Domaine Saint Damien

Domaine Saint-Damien is run by Joel and Amie Saurel and their son Romain who has now taken charge of the winemaking. The Saurel family had been tending vineyards for four generations, dating back to 1821, and until recently had been selling all of the grapes to negociants. In 1996 Joel resumed producing wine at the estate and in 1998 they brought on consulting winemaker Philippe Cambie. Vinification is classic with wines being made in large old cement tanks and aged in either the tanks or large old foudres for the Gigondas.

Today the estate is comprised of 17 hectares of vineyards of which 12 are in Gigondas. All their vineyards are certified organic since 2012. The vines are an average age of 50 years and are very low yielding. The wines of Gigondas are bottled according to individual terroir (particularly soil type) known as the Saint Damien Trilogy.