Gigondas La Louisiane Vieilles Vignes Domaine St. Damien 2023 (750ML)

This cuvée comes from a single parcel on the lower plain of Gigondas, around Domaine St. Damien's own estate, and Grenache makes up most of it. New oak is held to roughly 5%, which keeps fruit and spice out front. Set beside the domaine's Vieilles Vignes, it is the more polished of the two aromatically: stewed strawberry, raspberry and black cherry deepening into blackberry and kirsch, with thyme, black pepper and a meaty streak. The palate is broad and generous, with tannins that start silky and tighten as it goes, and licorice lingers on the finish. Critics see it drinking from 2026 and holding into the late 2030s. Serve it with grilled merguez, a beef daube or roast duck with olives.