Maison Lavau Gigondas 2021 – intense and spicy Rhône wine from the iconic Dentelles de Montmirail

Maison Lavau Gigondas 2021 is a powerful and elegant red wine from one of the Rhône Valley’s most characterful appellations. Concentrated dark fruit, warm spices and silky tannins come together in a wine with great depth and impressive length.

The grapes are grown on the terraced slopes of Gigondas at the foot of the famous Dentelles de Montmirail. The north-facing plots and calcareous marl soils slow the ripening of the grapes, creating wines with intensity, structure and beautiful freshness.

The wine is composed of 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre from old vines, providing concentration and complexity. After full destemming, the grapes undergo a long maceration of around 28 days in temperature-controlled tanks. During fermentation, both rack-and-return and daily pump-overs are performed to achieve maximum aroma, structure and depth of color.

After fermentation, 55% of the wine is aged in tank to preserve the fresh fruit, while 45% is aged in large 450 liter barrels previously used for one or two vintages. This combination gives the wine balance, elegance and a beautifully integrated spicy character.

Maison Lavau Gigondas 2021 is a wine with great gastronomic power and is perfect with hearty dishes such as coq au vin, braised beef, stews, guinea fowl and spicy dishes with lots of flavor. Decanting before serving is recommended to unlock the full complexity of the wine.

Tasting notes

The nose is deep and intense with distinctive spice notes of pepper and nutmeg that elegantly support aromas of blackcurrant and raspberry jam. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated with great volume, ripe tannins and a long, persistent finish with spicy finesse and dark fruit.

The history of the house

The Lavau family history began in Saint-Émilion in the 19th century, where the passion for wine and terroir was founded. Later, the family continued their wine adventure in Tunisia, where René Lavau and his son developed a small vineyard into the country’s largest wine production.

In the 1960s, Jean-Guy Lavau and Anne-Marie Lavau returned to France and established Maison Lavau in Sablet in the Rhône Valley. Here, the family house gradually grew into a recognized producer with a focus on classic Rhône wines and respect for the area’s terroir.

Frédéric and Benoît Lavau now represent the next generation and have further developed the house through investments in their own vineyards in Rasteau, Valréas and Côtes du Rhône, among others. The collaboration with Bénédicte and Charles Bonnet from Château Maucoil in Châteauneuf-du-Pape has further strengthened the house’s position among the Rhône Valley’s serious producers.

Product information

• Product: Maison Lavau Gigondas 2021
• Region: Gigondas, Rhône, France
• Grape varieties: 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
• Soil: Calcareous marl
• Winemaking: Long maceration in temperature-controlled tanks with rack-and-return and daily pump-overs
• Aging: 55% steel tank and 45% in 450 liter barrels for 12 months
• Serving: Coq au vin, beef stews, guinea fowl and spicy dishes
• Serving temperature: 17-18°C
• Quantity: 75 cl
• Contains: Sulfites
• Alcohol content: 14.5%