Table of Contents
The Kirkland Signature Gigondas 2021 is a $13.99 Costco exclusive produced for them by Guillaume Gonnet a winemaker who owns vineyards in the Chateauneuf Du Pape region of the Southern Rhone Valley in France.
Guillaume Gonnet produces wine from all the different sections of the Southern Rhone. The Northern Rhone specializes in expensive Syrah wines, while the Southern Rhone produces Red blends typically using Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.
Gigondas is a Cru wine, there are 8 Cru designated areas in the Southern Rhone with Chateauneuf Du Pape seen as the premier growing region. Gidondas is seen as slightly below Chateauneuf Du Pape.
Gigondas wines do not sell for $13.99, a quick web check saw a few priced at $20 and up with most in the $40 and well above range. Guillaume Gonnet produces his own Gigondas label that does not seem to be widely available in the US, which is probably why he put his name on a Kirkland wine. He is now getting his wine into the hands of wine drinkers who he had difficulty reaching.
His own Gigondas is said to be cellar-worthy for 19 to 15 years. The Kirkland Signature Gigondas 2021 is said to be a young wine that shows age well for 10 years. The blend of grapes blackberry for the Kirkland Signature Gigondas 2021 is 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. The Appellation Gigondas Controlee has strict rules and regulations concerning vineyard practices and the production of wine.
The Southern Rhone Valley is broken up into several classifications. The wines are labeled from the Southern Rhone which can be sourced from anywhere in the region. Then there is Rhone Villages which can be sourced from any of a list of vineyards around particular villages that are seen as a cut above. Then there are wines from a particular listed village, and at the top are the 8 Cru areas.
The Kirkland Signature Gigondas 2021 is a well-priced wine from an elite growing region, produced by a 3rd generation winemaker. The alcohol content is 14%.
Kirkland Signature Gigondas 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is black cherry red. The nose is blackberry, jammy ripe cherry, black pepper, a little minerality, a touch of spice, smoke, and a savory note. The Kirkland Signature Gigondas 2021 is a juicy, very flavorful wine with a bit of complexity.
This Red Blend tastes like ripe blackberry, smooth plum, a soft spice, orange zest, and raspberry jelly (not sweet). The mid-palate shows licorice, blueberry, dusty tannins, and tart/sour cherry. The acidity does its job well, the flavors can fully unfold and the wine has good length.
The Summary
- The Kirkland Signature Gigondas 2021 is a good wine at a great price.
- This is a drink-it-now Gigonda as opposed to an age-worthy Gigonda, but that is
- something most value-priced wine drinkers would prefer.
- Drink upscale on the cheap!
