2012 Les Pallieres Gigondas Les Racines

In the same ballpark quality-wise (as the les Terraces de Diable), the 2012 Gigondas les Racines has a darker slant to its fruit and gives up plenty of currants, licorice, bouquet garni and chocolate, as well as serious minerality. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless, I actually like the mid-palate on the Terraces de Diable more, but the tannin quality here is more polished and sweeter. Give this another 2-3 years in the cellar and drink it through 2024. 91 points