JB Meunier's Gardette is one of our longest standing direct relationships in the Rhone Valley. We have been buying his wines for almost two decades and every time you try one, you can see why. In that time, it is amazing to see his evolution as a winemaker. As JB (and his vines) have gotten older, his winemaking is more deft and balanced. The "Tradition" bottling is loaded with perfume. Filling the glass with a sense of place like so few others. When you inhale, you are transported to the Dentelles (the jagged hillsides of Gigondas) and walk among its forests. Incense, garrigue, lavendar and of course beautiful strawberry and cherry fruits surround you. Fine tannins lend beautiful structure and a supple finish. I love wines that transport you. Who couldn't use a little trip to Provence right now?

Quite possibly the best vintage of this powerhouse wine yet! The 2018 has a striking combination of deep, black cherry, raspberry and plum fruits, smoke, spice and herbs. The texture is luscious and there is good fruit concentration here but everything is still bright and lifted. All of the elements are so well-balanced and crafted with elegance. This wine is exquisite.

When I put this wine to my nose, I am immediately transported to the South of France. I can see the sunlit verandas, the limestone daggers jutting out from the hilltops, the olive groves and orange clay topped villages peppered throughout the landscape. Now, I've never been to Gigondas, but it doesn't take a lot of imagination; once you open this bottle and pour it into a glass, you will disappear, and Hello! South of France, there you are. Filled with rich ripe red fruit and a silky smooth white pepper finish, you can buck this wine up against hearty grilled steaks, aromatic food from around the Mediterranean. Or, bring it over to Mother's house and take her to that trip along the coast of France you've been promising her for far too long.