Made from purchased fruit, the 2007 Gigondas Seigneur de Lauris (named after that beautiful Provencal hill town) is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. Clearly a more modern take on winemaking, it spends time in new oak during its upbringing. The result is a dark ruby/purple-hued wine offering notes of espresso, graphite, toast, and dense black cherry and black currant fruit. This medium to full-bodied, lush, heady 2007 should drink well for 5-7 years..
This large, exclusively Vacqueyras domaine has 100 acres spread throughout the appellation. Perhaps they produce too many cuvees, but there is unquestionably a lot of good wine to be found from Maison Arnoux et Fils. The wines differ slightly in both blends and upbringings, with the most traditional cuvees, such as Vieux Clocher, Arnoux et Fils, Jean-Marie Arnoux, and Chapelle St.-Arnoux, undergoing typical upbringings of only tank or ancient foudres (no new oak). The Seigneur de Lauris is aged in a combination of foudres and small barrels. The 1717 sees 100% new oak barrels, and the Vieilles Vignes is kept in both small and large oak barrels.
Importers: Grape Expectations, California; and Wine Without Borders