Jean Baptiste Meunier is revving up the reputation of Gigondas by focusing on his relentless pursuit of quality. After taking over the family winery in 1988 he worked tirelessly in the vineyard to improve the quality of his twenty-five parcels. Most of the vines are 60-65 years old and some of the vineyard parcels are even older. Following a complete renovation of the cellar in 2003, the modern winery now exemplifies what state-of-the-art wine making is all about. Jean Baptiste makes two gorgeous wines that highlight the character and personality of old vine Grenache and Syrah from Gigondas. The "Tradition" is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and 10% Mourvedre while "Le Ventabren" is sourced from the oldest vines on the estate with the assemblage made from 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault. No longer hiding in the shadows of its more famous neighbor Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas is quietly making big strides toward its rightful place as a world-class wine.
