Pierre Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this beautiful organic and biodynamic Gigondas from Rhône that arrived at the LCBO last weekend in the April 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Pierre Amadieu has been winegrowing in the hills of Gigondas since 1929. At the time, he had a 7 hectare vineyard that had been passed down through the generations. Pierre Amadieu was one of the first producers to print the name of the appellation on its labels and played an instrumental role in developing and promoting Gigondas wines. Near the village in 1945, Pierre Amadieu built a winemaking facility and a subterranean ageing cellar that was dug two levels underground to ensure constant temperature and hygrometry.

In 1950, Pierre Amadieu, who was a pioneer in several domains in Gigondas, purchased two properties that were historically linked - Romane and La Machotte. With this purchase, Pierre Amadieu became the largest estate in Gigondas with 137 hectares of vines that were surrounded by 200 hectares of garrigue and holm oaks, assuring natural protection of the vineyard. In 1955, he purchased an old railway tunnel near Pierrelongue (Drôme) to allow for exceptional ageing of his wines. The property at La Machotte is equipped with oak casks still in use today, as well as takes advantage of natural air conditioning, and also has 13th century ceramic vats which are still visible. Well before environmental awareness grew across the globe, 1,200 sheep were pasturing in the vineyards in the off-season and providing natural manure and controlled ground cover planting to obtain a natural and healthy vineyard.

The next generation took up the reins in the vineyard and cellar when Pierre Amadieu's sons Jean-Pierre and Claude joined the family business in 1965 and 1975. In 1989, Pierre Amadieu Jr. (Jean-Pierre's son) became the head of the company and represented the third generation of the family. Soon thereafter, Pierre was joined by his three cousins Henri-Claude, Jean-Marie, and Marie, and all three play important roles in the company. In 2019, Pierre Amadieu celebrated its 90th vintage and with a commitment to continuously improving their knowledge and infrastructure, they inaugurated their new ageing cellar that was built in natural stone. Their goal is to produce well-balanced, fine wines that reveal the elegance and richness of their protected terroirs located in the heights of the Gigondas appellation.

This particular red wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was grown in the southern Rhone Valley Cru of Gigondas on vines that are deeply rooted on the hillsides of the family estate, where the scent of "garrigue" that grew there for centuries still perfumes the vines that replaced it. The vineyard is located at 300 metres altitude, faces northwest, and has soils composed of alternating Cretaceous limestone and marl. The grapes for this bottling were grown on vines averaging 45 years. After hand-picking the grapes, it was fermented in concrete tanks and aged for 12 months in foudres and barrels.

Tasting Note:

PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE MACHOTTE GIGONDAS 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#17400) (XD) - $27.95
Composed of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, the fragrant nose is intense and spicy with beautiful aromas of garrigue, peppery spice, raspberry, dark cherry, floral, and dried herb flecked with smoky minerals. It's medium-full bodied, structured, and ripe with plummy, black cherry, raspberry, smoky flavours. It has fresh, well-balanced acidity, while the tannins are supple, structured, and a bit tight. Smoky raspberry notes linger on the long, juicy, and crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other excellent wines by Pierre Amadieu can be ordered through their Agent - Trilogy Wine Group.