DOMAINE BRUSSET, GIGONDAS & CAIRANNE

RHÔNE VALLEY, FRANCE

Not many wineries can manage to deliver both excellence in the glass and lightness on the wallet. Among the few who can is Domaine Brusset: witness their Les Hauts Montmirail 2019, a Gigondas that Jeb Dunnuck awarded 96 points, and that we are so thrilled to be able to share with our Concierge Family for a best price of under $35 a bottle!
 

And here’s the thing: Not only can Brusset do it, it does it consistently — year in and year out, in vintage after delicious vintage.
 

Little wonder, then, that this star of Southern Rhône has achieved cult status among connoisseurs and collectors alike.
 

Noting the eminent versatility of wines from Southern Rhône, Wine Spectator's James Molesworth has written that they offer "something for every wine lover ... from big, muscular wines to more stylish." And perhaps no estate typifies this versatility better than Brusset — founded by Andre Brusset in 1947, later handed down to son Daniel, and now in the expert hands of grandson Laurent: three generations of an unwavering commitment to excellence.
 

No sooner do we procure an allocation of Brusset wines than the bottles are already on their way out the door — our last offer sold out in a matter of days, and this captivating quartet (two from their Gigondas estate plus two from their Cairanne estate) surely won't be an exception.
 

Robert Parker once predicted that Gigondas would produce some of "the most sought-after wines in southern France," and that prognostication has largely been borne out, as a region once known mostly for churning out bulk wines today features some of the leading estates in all of Rhône. 
 

In these two Gigondas gems, we can see precisely what he was so excited about.
 

Dunnuck, in his 96 point assessment of Brusset’s Les Hauts Montmirail 2019, went weak-kneed, calling it “perfectly balanced … [with] ultra-fine tannins, remarkable purity, and one heck of a great finish. There are a tiny 1,000 cases produced, but do your best to latch onto a few bottles. It’s going to drink fabulously well for upwards of two decades." 
 

Both it and the powerful, concentrated Tradition Le Grand Montmirail hail from the Dentelles de Montmirail region, which is universally regarded as having some of the most prestigious vineyards in all of Rhône. So while you will enjoy the density and brawn that are so characteristic of the region, and that endear it to drinkers the world over,  the terroir of Montmirail brings a nervy edge that adds life to the wines. Just as important, it allows them to age far beyond that of a village-level Gigondas.
 

Brusset was among the first estates in the region to age their premier wines in small barrels, and in the years since they have only refined their maturation process. Balance is the watchword. Fruit and wood complement one another, with neither fighting for the upper hand.
 

The ’20 Cairanne Vieilles Vignes is a blend of old-vine Grenache and Syrah from the heart of the estate, matured primarily in stainless steel tanks (40% in oak casks). The maturation in stainless steel gives it a wonderful purity, to go along with its ripeness and weight. Decanter awarded it 91 points, commending its “intensity, drive and concentration of spicy fruit,“ its “fine and deceptively plentiful” tannins” and its “fresh and spicy, Syrah-dominated style."
  
Likewise the ‘19 Travers Rouge, a charming, medium- to full-bodied wine that delivers the kind of structure and finish that few wines in this price range can match. Wine Advocate awarded it 91 points, noting the "delicate herbal notions of garrigue [that] entwine red raspberries on the nose," the "supple tannins ... fine, silky feel in the mouth and ... lingering finish."
 

There you have it, folks — a quartet of excellent and expressive wines that absolutely rank with the best of their Valley neighbors … but at a third or a quarter of the price. 
 

Act fast and secure yours now!

*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring/Summer 2022. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in MA, MI, NJ, NY, TN, VA or WI. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.