Lavau Gigondas (2017)

This has very attractive dried flowers and stones on offer with a rich array of red plums and nectarines that flow to the palate. The depth and drive here is really stunning. Great balance and juicy allure now; there’s more to come later.

Prominent veins of char, vanilla and clove extend from nose to finish in this sultry, sun-drenched red. A blend of old-vine Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre sourced from calcareous-marl soils and aged partially in oak, it's a creamy expression of Gigondas.

Lavau's 2017 Gigondas is 50% Grenache, with 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Partly aged in slightly used barrels, it offers up scents of scorched cedar but also blueberry and ripe stone fruit. Full-bodied and concentrated, with a coarse, open-knit texture and a long, chewy finish, it should drink well from 2020-2026.