80% Grenache (planted 1948), 20% Mourvèdre (planted 1977). 100% de-stemmed and fermented in large concrete tanks for 7 weeks or more. Matured in large oak casks for 12 months before bottling un-fined and unfiltered.
”A gorgeous wine in the vintage, the 2022 Gigondas Les Souteyrades checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that saw a lengthy maceration and will spend over a year in foudre. It's a ripe, powerful Gigondas with medium to full-bodied richness, notes of ripe strawberries, black raspberries, exotic spice, and flowers, a terrific sense of freshness and purity, fine tannins, and a great finish. Readers should snatch up this sensational 2022.” (94-96) points, Jeb Dunnuck, October 2023
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.