Gigondas La Gille Red, Famille Perrin

Gigondas La Gille Red, Famille Perrin is the house's cru in AOC Gigondas, a red of Grenache and Syrah born on north-west slopes, peppery and silky.

La Gille comes from terroirs of limestone and calcareous marl, with high proportions of safres and sand, and plots of clay. The vines sit on slopes facing north-west, an orientation that preserves acidity and delays ripening, a valuable asset in Gigondas. Some old Grenache plots planted on sand still carry pre-phylloxera vines.

Famille Perrin is based at Château de Beaucastel, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where the family has worked for several generations. A pioneer of organic and then biodynamic growing, it belongs to Primum Familiae Vini, the circle of the world's leading wine families. Over the years it has extended its work to the other appellations of the southern Rhône, each cuvée coming from identified plots that are vinified separately.

Key facts

• Origin: France, Rhône Valley, southern Rhône
• Appellation: AOC Gigondas
• Producer: Famille Perrin
• Cuvée: La Gille
• Grape varieties: Grenache and Syrah
• Terroir: Limestone and calcareous marl, high proportions of safres and sand, slopes facing north-west
• Winemaking: Hand harvest, grapes sorted, crushed and vatted on arrival at the cellar, long maceration to round the tannins, extraction by hand punch-downs
• Ageing: One year in foudres and wooden tanks, after the malolactic fermentation and blending
• Colour: Red wine
• Bottle size: 75 cl

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Clear, ruby coloured
• Nose: Pepper, liquorice and violet, typical of Gigondas
• Palate: A silky texture, very supple, delicate tannins, fine notes of small black fruit

Serving and cellaring

Serve it at 16 °C. This is a Gigondas of lace rather than power, to open between three and eight years. Keep the bottle lying down, at a steady temperature, away from light and vibration.

Food pairings

The house suggests veal chops with morels and crisp breast of lamb. Its liquorice and violet notes also work with duck with olives or a board of characterful cheeses.

Read more

Read the story of Famille Perrin, our tour of the red wines of the Rhône Valley and what wood ageing changes in a wine. Find the whole range in our Famille Perrin collection, and the rest of our selection in the Vins collection or among our red wines.

Frequently asked questions

What are pre-phylloxera vines?

They are vine stocks that predate the phylloxera crisis, which destroyed the French vineyard at the end of the nineteenth century. Sand naturally protects the roots from the aphid, which is why a few sandy plots survived, with vines still on their own roots.

Why slopes facing north-west?

In the southern Rhône, sunshine is not the limiting factor. A north-west exposure slows ripening, keeps acidity and avoids excessive alcohol. That is what gives this cuvée its peppery, slender profile.

How is the bottle shipped?

Shipping within France is free on orders over 300 EUR. Every bottle is carefully packed and sent with tracked delivery.