Domaine Brusset, Gigondas & Cairanne

"Les Hauts de Montmirail" is one of the most concentrated, magical wines of the appellation (Robert Parker, Wines of the Rhône Valley , Dorling Kindersley)

Andre Brusset founded this estate in 1947 since when it has grown into one of the largest landowners in Cairanne and Gigondas with some important holdings in both appellations. Following his death in 1999, his son Daniel and grandson Laurent have created a special cuvee "Hommage à André Brusset" from their oldest vines planted on the estate's best parcels in Cairanne. More...

2016 Côtes du Rhône 'Laurent B' A superior CDR from an ever-reliable estate. more details...	£9.90 (Bottle) £36.00 (6 btls in bond)
2015 Cairanne 'Les Travers' Rouge Very attractive, fruity red with spicy notes for medium term drinking. Parker: 91/100 more details...	£12.60 (Bottle) £48.00 (6 btls in bond)
2016 Cairanne 'Les Travers' Blanc Dry, aromatic white offering superb drinking. more details...	£13.20 (Bottle) £51.00 (6 btls in bond)
2015 Rasteau 'La Bastide' Well healed Rasteau - full and rich with full, sweet fruit. Parker: 93/100 more details...	£15.00 (Bottle) £60.00 (6 btls in bond)
2013 Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne 'Les Chabriles' Refined Grenache/Syrah wine, spicy with superb fruit character and depth. WA: 91/100 No. 36 in the 2012 edition of Oz Clarke's 250 Best Wines" more details...	£15.00 (Bottle) £63.00 (6 btls in bond)
2010 Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne 'Les Chabriles' Elegant yet concentrated, very stylish and refined wine. more details...	£15.00 (Bottle) £126.00 (12 btls in bond)
2011 Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne 'Les Chabriles' Serious, chunky red with lots of spicy fruit to come. WA: 91/100 more details...	£15.00 (Bottle) £63.00 (6 btls in bond)
2015 Cairanne 'Les Chabriles' Concentrated yet elegant red and ageworthy WA: 93/100 more details...	£16.50 (Bottle) £69.00 (6 btls in bond)
2015 Cairanne 'L'Esprit de Papet' Exotic bouquet and exquisite fruit. Gorgeous. 91/100 (The Wine Advocate) more details...	£18.00 (Bottle) £75.00 (6 btls in bond)
2013 Gigondas 'Le Grand Montmirail' (Tradition) Fresh fruited and rich red from Gigondas. WA: 90/100 more details...	£18.00 (Bottle) £75.00 (6 btls in bond)
2015 Gigondas 'Le Grand Montmirail' A more classic Gigondas than usual for this modernist but perhaps all the better for it. WA: 91/100 more details...	£18.00 (Bottle) £75.00 (6 btls in bond)
2011 Gigondas 'Le Grand Montmirail' Very approachable, modern Gigondas with supple tannins. WA: 91/100 more details...	£18.00 (Bottle) £75.00 (6 btls in bond)
2010 Gigondas 'Le Grand Montmirail' Black-fruited wine from leading Côtes du Rhône Cru, Gigondas. Also available in half bottles. WA: 94/100 more details...	£19.50 (Bottle) £180.00 (12 btls in bond)
2013 Gigondas 'Les Hauts de Montmirail' Elegant, structured Gigondas and eminently drinkable. WA: 91/100 more details...	£30.00 (Bottle) £138.00 (6 btls in bond)
2009 Gigondas 'Les Hauts de Montmirail' Powerful, concentrated, oak-aged red. One of the appellation's very best wines. WA: 93/100 more details...	£30.00 (Bottle) £276.00 (12 btls in bond)
2011 Gigondas 'Les Hauts de Montmirail' Concentrated but stylish wine, big and majestic but with all the components to make this a real pleasure. WA: 94/100 more details...	£30.00 (Bottle) £138.00 (6 btls in bond)
2010 Gigondas 'Les Hauts de Montmirail' Massive, concentrated, but very stylish, oaked red - the wine of the vintage in Gigondas! WA: 95+/100 more details...	£32.00 (Bottle) £294.00 (12 btls in bond)
2016 Gigondas 'Les Hauts de Montmirail' Stunning Gigondas, elegant yet concentrated and very complex. WA: 94+/100 more details...	£32.00 (Bottle) £294.00 (12 btls in bond)
2015 Gigondas 'Les Secrets de Montmirail' Stunning back-to-basics Gigondas. 95/100 (Wine Advocate) more details...	£40.00 (Bottle) £186.00 (6 btls in bond)

Daniel Brusset has made the estate world famous, principally for the two Gigondas cuvees, "Le Grand Montmirail" and the oaked "Les Hauts de Montmirail". Both are consistently amongst the finest wines to come out of the appellation each year with "Les Hauts" one of the most powerful wines from this appellation of over the top wines. With a fairly high percentage of new oak used in the upbringing of the wine, it is attractive young but can age effortlessly for a decade or more. Because "Les Hauts" is (as the name suggests) high in the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Brussets were able to make it even in the rain-soaked 2002 vintage. Perhaps a little lighter than usual, it was still an extremely good wine.

The Brussets' wines are always in the top tier from both Gigondas and Cairanne. A personal favourite is the Cairanne cuvée "Les Chabriles", named after a lieu dit in the appellation. It is a concentrated Grenache-Syrah blend which generally drinks well young but has a good lifespan too. Otherwise from Cairanne, there is the "Les Travers" cuvée, also named after a lieu dit which is generally a very attractive and approachable wine. Laurent also makes a white version of "Les Travers" which includes a good dollop of the highly aromatic Viognier. Simply lovely.

 

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