"Gigondas doesn't get much more traditional than this." - Dom. Raspail-Ay 2022

letuffeau.com (Link) “Run by Christophe Ay and his sister, Anne-Sophie, with the help of only one other full-time employee (a tractor driver), Raspail-Ay owns 19 hectares in Gigondas, producing only a single cuvée each year.” Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate … Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas, Southern Rhone — “The 2022 Vintage for Domaine Raspail-Ay has just landed in Australia and, promptly delivered, we have already found our hands on a number of bottles. I have been collecting this wine since the 2016 vintage and cannot think of a Gigondas producer I like more; indeed in all the Southern Rhone there are only one or two Domaines I would readily drink, or cellar, as much as this one. If anything defines 'tradition' in the Southern Rhone, it is the practices of the Ay siblings. ” — David ~ “Run by Christophe Ay and his sister, Anne-Sophie, with the help of only one other full-time employee (a tractor driver), Raspail-Ay owns 19 hectares in Gigondas, producing only a single cuvée each year. Plantings are 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, all on the plain in front of the village. The harvest is all by hand, the varieties kept separate for fermentation in concrete vats. Picking follows the progression of Syrah, old-vine Grenache, young-vine Grenache and ends with Mourvèdre. Generally, the grapes are destemmed, but Christophe said he kept some whole bunches in 2022's old-vine Grenache. Following malolactic fermentation, the varieties are blended together and put into old foudres for at least two years, so the 2021 was still in foudres last summer. Aside from the prevalence of destemmed fruit, Gigondas doesn't get much more traditional than this.” Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — ~ please note : discounts are automatically applied at the digital check-out! ~ — Domaine Raspail-Ay 2022 Gigondas (Shelf Price: $119.00) Offer: $95.00 (20%-off) “Pouring a dark, yet still translucent, ruby-garnet with faint violet highlights; this 2022 Gigondas from the Ay siblings shrugs off its veil of reduction with vigorous swirling to reveal a sapid and powerful, yet never overripe, nose of dark cherries nearing Schwarzwaldkuchen, pain d'epices, orange peel, prominent mineral tones, and bitter dark chocolate trimmed in notes of game (grilled squab), mossy cellar-aromas, and pleasing balsam notes. The palate is fresher than the nose lets on, with a crisp line of acidity and building youthfully grainy tannin. Red and black cherry, blackberry and preserve thereof, roasting tray, mineral elements - darkly granitic, almost rusty, bay and balsam, oregano; very warming. As a customer pointed out, the technical term is: "Yummy". If you eat meat, pair with slow-braised beef ribs or oxtail, if you do not: field mushroom pthivier.” — David & "The 2022 Gigondas from Domaine Raspail-Ay exhales a deep, complex bouquet of ripe cherries, flowers, dark wild berries and peonies mingled with gentle, oaky notes. Medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it has a fleshy core of fruit framed by structured tannins and a long, delicately peppery finish. This outstanding, quite mineral Gigondas comprises 70% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. The Grenache and Mourvèdre matured in foudres, while the Syrah saw time in used barrels and large barrels." (Link) (92-94)pts — (Link) Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Order here (Link) ~ also available, on request by reply email ~ (Link) Domaine Raspail-Ay 2022 Gigondas (MAGNUM) (Shelf Price: $265.00) Offer: $225.00 & Domaine Raspail-Ay 2022 Gigondas (DOUBLE MAGNUM - 3000ml) Offer: $575.00 … Please join us for a drink soon. Reservations preferred. Bookings and after-6.00pm access: (03) 9419 3867 Tue. 11.00 am–6.00 pm Wed.–Sat. 11.00 am–11.00 pm — If you would like any of the above, would like to come by for a private appointment, or just have some questions — please let us know.