Description

Dominique Ay is a descendant of the Raspail family of Gigondas and currently works on the 19 hectares of vines that have been part of the vineyard for 6 generations (1850). The plots are all together in one piece and surround the viticoles houses which are located at the entrance of Gigondas, below the natural barrier of “Les Dentelles de Montmirail”. The land is made of clay-limestone and has an East-West exposure, which advantages the grape’s structure (Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre), and they have an average age of 50 years.

In the vineyard’s cultural tradition, which has remarkably adapted to natural conditions over time, the wine from the property is exclusively AOC Gigondas, showcasing the terroir. The grapes are harvested by hand, sorted on the vines and then destemmed to ferment during long vatting (about 1 month), in the family vats. The wine is then aged between 18 and 24 months in old oak tanks, with a capacity of 40 to 130 hectoliters. It is only 2 years after the grape harvest that the Domaine Raspail-Ay’s Gigondas Rouge is available for tasting. With a garrigue nose and a ruby color, the balance in the mouth is between the structure of cooked fruits or spices and the finesse of tannins. The wine can be consumed 3 or 4 years after bottling, (and depending on) the vintage up to 15 or 20 years.