Domaine Le Clos des Cazaux, Prestige 2021 – Gigondas

The wine has a ruby color of medium intensity. The nose is reserved at first and requires aeration. Once opened, it expresses the aromas of very ripe fruit (black plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, wild strawberry, dried morello cherry in the background), a sweet hint of jam and fruit liqueur (morello cherry jam, crème de cassis, plum cream), a slightly earthy touch of dry stone, Mediterranean herbs (garrigue, savory hint of dried and roasted bouquet garni), a delicate but textured and gourmand touch of sweet spices (liquorice, even star anise, juniper berry, slightly toasted cumin and coriander seeds, black pepper in the background) and torrefaction (bitter cocoa, dark chocolate, coffee, a very slight touch of toasted wood in the background), as well as dried wild flowers. The palate offers a tangy and chiselled attack, good bitterness and a generous and warming finish. We find notes of very ripe black plum, prunes in chocolate, even prunes in armagnac, morello cherry jam, amarena cherry, crème de cassis, as well as crushed blackberry and wild strawberry, associated with notes of toast, coffee, Mediterranean herbs (roasted bouquet garni, herbs of garrigue, a touch of hay), sweet spices (liquorice, black pepper, cumin) and dried wild flowers. The finish is full-bodied, with firm and structured tannins, but with a fine texture and a powdery hint of cocoa. Good persistence, on roasted fruit, balanced by good bitterness and fresh acidity.