Pierre Amadieu
Our domain is located on hillsides mainly exposed North -Northwest between 230m and 500m of altitude and spreads over 137 hectares (338 acres), surrounded with 200 hectares of garrigue and holm oaks. We are almost the only owner of these beautiful protected lands of the North-Eastern part of the appellation Gigondas. This exposure gives a perfect aeration to vines and avoids an excessive period of sunshine in full summer. It brings our wines freshness and allows a longer grapes’ maturation without risking drought or bitterness.
On singular terroirs Grouped together from La Machotte up to Romane, four type of soils imprint their personality. These poor clay limestone soils concentrate the aromas by naturally limited yields. Mainly composed by marls dating from Cretaceous superior, our terroirs are very well adapted to wines with a good aging capacity and partly explain the originality of our vintages. The expression of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault (for rosé) and Clairette (for white wine) on these terroirs among the highest of the appellation, is very personalized: wines are powerfully spiced. A smaller part of the vineyard (7 hectares) is in contrast in the Southwestern part of Gigondas. It is mainly planted with Mourvèdre, which grapes bring sunny and wild notes to our cuvée as well as the sharpness of sandier soils.
The combination of grape-variety and Mediterranean climate with these different types of soils and the freshness and delicacy of altitude, gives us generous, elegant, well balanced and long-on-the-palate wines.
A long and moderated maturing to express each terroirThe wine makings take place in Gigondas and in the cellar of Romane, in the heart of the vineyard. I like long and traditional fermentation or maceration of whole berries for Mourvèdre grapes. Wines are then aged carefully in our cellars of Gigondas and La Machotte, with a perfect natural hygrometry. By a long and moderated maturing (between 12 and 24 months), combining barrels and big oak casks, I look for a discreet woodiness which respects and reveals all the expression of our terroirs.
Gigondas ‘Le Pas de L’Aigle’
This wine has two important allies, namely patience and time: late harvests and a manual selection of the ripest bunches is followed by intense winemaking methods (cuvaison during one month, during which time the grape skins are regularly soaked by the fermenting juice) for a precise, yet powerful, extraction. The careful ageing (24 months in large 100hl oak casks) allows the finesse of the French oak to be subtly integrated, while respecting and revealing the complex aromas and flavours of these noble Rhône varieties.
Pierre Amadieu's flagship, pure expression of Grenache (90%) grown on Gigondas' north-facing slopes. Concentrated, deep, so complex and with such fine, long tannins. Peppery notes and menthol enhance the natural freshness of the terroir. 2012 is typical in Gigondas for juicy wines with a solid, square tannic structure and great acidity. Very enjoyable already, with the potential to age beautifully over the next 12+ years.
Tasting Notes
Well this is a bold, juicy mass of Grenache. Dark cherry and plum, liquorice, saucy spice, almost a violet perfume too. Full bodied, fleshy and rich with a ripe mass of tannin, while stone and dried herb cinches it in. Finishes long and succulent, with a wisp of smoke in the aftertaste. Still looking young and vigorous, and likely even better in a few years.
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