Vaudieu

This gorgeously situated domaine has been stepping up their game exponentially in recent years. There are a whopping 70 hectares of vines here, most of them old and planted on sandy soils near Rayas and Pignan. The wines vividly show the highly perfumed, floral- and spice-laced character that defines the area, along with real depth and generosity of fruit and velvety texture. Winemaker Laurent Brechet, whose family owns the estate (along with Gigondas’ elite Domaine des Bosquets, where his brother Julien is at the helm) works with well-known consultant Philippe Cambie, and his efforts are steadily propelling these wines into the highest quality level of the appellation. These 2016s make that point eloquently. -- Josh Raynolds.