The Domaine la Fourmone earns consistent accolades from critics in France, Britain and America for its superb expressions of Vacqueyras and Gigondas. Fourmone’s Le Fauquet casts an opaque black-plum robe and fills the room with textbook Gigondas scents of black raspberries, black licorice, lavender-inflected garrigue, bay leaf, and hickory smoke. Fleshy and generous on the palate, the wine tightens mid-palate to reveal plentiful fine tannins that frame and buttress the wine’s chewy kernel of blackberry and plum fruit. Packed with Southern French charm and warmth, Fourmone’s impeccably balanced cuvee finishes bright and spicy with added suggestions of orange zest, lavender, savory herbs, licorice, menthol, baking spices, and cocoa. A terrific value in classic, old-school Gigondas, this will make a lovely foil for leg of lamb, burgers, grilled eggplant, mushroom ragouts, and hearty stews. Enjoy now and over the coming decade.
