Château Gicon 2019

Château de Gicon’s old vineyards share the same huge ‘galets’, or pudding stones, that dot the earth as nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Just like in the famous estates over the river, the rocky ground soaks up sunshine and radiates heat up to the vines by night. This tips the quality, ripeness and concentration of fruit off the scale. Yet here in quiet Chusclan, the powerful wines don’t come at the same hefty price. We first visited the cellar over 40 years ago and fell in love with their great-value, fruit-filled, spicy and easy to enjoy red. The 2019 is a seamless marriage of bold Syrah and juicy Grenache, with a touch of Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan for added complexity. Smooth and rich, it's a great partner with lamb or a casserole.