DOMAINE SANTA DUC, Gigondas organic
Domaine Santa Duc was founded in 1874 and Yves Gras is the 4th generation of winegrower at the estate. The name comes from Grand-Duc, the largest European owl who lives and sings during the night in the area, in provencal it translates as Canta Duc, which in time became Santa Duc.
Yves, who produces some of the most sought-after wines in the region, owns 23 ha in Gigondas, Rasteau, Cairanne and Côtes du Rhone appellations. The area is known as the garrigue, an arid, rocky section of vineyards that run north and south mid-slope between the Ouvéze and the Rhône Rivers. The roasted, dry soils are decomposed rock and the area is characterized by wild herbs, sage and cedar.
Yves’ style of viticulture has always been organic, with very low yields, hand-harvesting, use of native yeasts only and no filtration. However Yves went for the full certification which he obtained in 2012.
“Under the Domaine Santa Duc label, Gras produces some of the best buys in Côtes du Rhone … / …
his Gigondas are exhilarating wines of superb quality. They set reference points for what Gigondas can be.” Robert Parker
The Côtes du Rhône ‘Vieilles Vignes’ comes from old vineyards from Gigondas’ neighbouring villages of Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Seguret, and Rouaix. This wine is technically a Côtes du Rhône Villages, as it comes from the best villages in the appellation. The blend is 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, with the average vine age being approximately 40 years of age. This cuvée sees no oak with no destemming, and is bottled unfiltered. Big and full-on flavours – ripe sweet cherry, stewed prunes with spices, earth and wild herbs – the palate is full and ripe, showing great concentration. The dark berries fruit and gamey flavours are followed by chewy but ripe tannins
