While it is true that (a) both Gigondas and Châteauneuf are Grenache-based blends, and (b) the two towns are only about 10 miles apart, they are nevertheless different terroirs. The vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are lower-lying hills and alluvial plateaus with high percentages of sand and river cobble, while the vineyards of Gigondas climb to higher elevations, into the foothills of the limestone-rich Dentelles de Montmirail—a shark-toothed mountain range that looms over the town and shapes the style of its wines. 

That’s where you’ll find Domaine du Terme and the Gaudins—a winemaking family since 1870. Of their total 25 hectares spread out between four appellations, 11 of them are in Gigondas, with vines hovering around the 50-year mark. Anne-Marie farms in an organic, chemical-free fashion, but doesn’t bother with certifications because, to her, treating the land naturally is common sense. In the winery, 90% of the crop is de-stemmed before an extended fermentation with natural yeasts. Twelve months in large, neutral casks follows, and, for this batch, an unfiltered bottling occurred in January of 2018. Factoring in the additional bottle aging, that’s nearly three years of maturation before it lands at your door—an impressive feat for such a low price tag!

This Grenache blend reveals an intense dark ruby core in the glass with flashes of ruby-pink on the rim. Opulent, brambly fruit jumps boldly to the fore alongside powerful purple and red florals; after minutes, it unloads with more intoxicating layers of licorice, peppercorn, cherry and raspberry liqueur, boysenberry, blueberry compote, garrigue, and baking spices. There’s no shortage of depth and ripeness, but it is balanced by buoyant freshness—something that can be tough to master down here in southern Rhône. Unlike many wines from top-performing” vintages that only perform well for the first few years after bottling, Domaine du Terme can be enjoyed now—it’s already in fine form today—but will continue improving for 5-7 years. If you’re one who enjoys a well-aged Rhône, keep your last few bottles until 2030+ and see how much they surprise you.