The 2012 Saint-Damien Gigondas is seduction in a glass. A walled-in garden of lilacs and lavender, huckleberries, dried mint and dusty earth that offers both concentration and finesse. There is ample structure here, amid velvet layers of ripe plum, subtle gaminess, iron and ox blood and a lovely black pepper note on the finish. Accessible now, but certainly a wine that will continue to improve with cellaring—a nice pairing with braised lamb shank. 14.5% ABV
9.2 Points