Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise 2020: report and top-scoring wines
While there may be a bit less consistency in Gigondas 2020 wines, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise reds will provide lighter, juicier and fruitier wines than usual, for early drinking.
‘All good quality years have hydric stress,’ says Jacky Bernard, President of AOC Vacqueyras, ‘otherwise you don’t get the necessary concentration… But extreme stress is counterproductive.’
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for the top-scoring Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise 2020 wines
Vacqueyras, perhaps thanks to its proportion of old vines (42% are over 40 years old) rode out the drought in 2020 relatively successfully.
It’s not a powerful or tannic year, but the reds are juicy, balanced and accessible, while the whites are concentrated and energetic.
See the Rhône 2020 full vintage report and top-scoring wines
See all 400 Rhône 2020 tasting notes and scores
Though there are many good wines to choose from in Gigondas, quality is less consistent.
Some wines lack the terroir expression and complexity that comes with full maturity. Those who waited for maximum ripeness and opted for a long élevage had the most success.
Beaumes de Venise reds tend to lack their characteristic chiselled structure this year. Here it’s a light and fruity vintage for early drinking – the sweet whites were more successful.
Quick links
Southern Rhône report and top-scoring wines
Châteauneuf-du-Pape | Lirac & Tavel | Rasteau, Cairanne & Vinsobres
Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise 2020 key producers
Château de Saint-Cosme
Domaine des Bernardins
Domaine la Monardière
Domaine le Sang des Cailloux
Domaine Santa Duc
Moulin de la Gardette
Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise 2020 top value wines
Château des Roques, Cuvée Blanche, Vacqueyras, 2020
Domaine La Fourmone, Le Fleurantine Blanc, Vacqueyras, 2020
Domaine du Terme, Vacqueyras, 2020
Château la Croix des Pins, Les Dessous des Dentelles, Gigondas, 2020
Domaine du Gour de Chaulé, Tradition, Gigondas, 2020
Domaine de la Ferme St Martin, Les Terres Jaunes, Beaumes de Venise, 2020
See the Southern Rhône 2020 score table listing Matt’s top 88 wines scoring 94 points or above
See Matt’s top Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise 2020 tasting notes and scores:
Related content:
Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Northern Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Southern Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Domaine la Monardière, Galéjade, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
An oaked style that's very rich and silky, however there's enough sweet fruit to balance it, ending with a great burst of pear and apple...
2020
Domaine la MonardièreVacqueyras
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux, Un Sang Blanc, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Lemon, lime, satsuma and lemon verbena, this is light-bodied, refreshing and very drinkable. Fine, precise and slightly Burgundian, with touches of cream and honey appearing....
2020
Domaine Le Sang des CaillouxVacqueyras
Domaine Montirius, Minéral, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Subtle pear, honeysuckle and quince flavours, it's lean and dry on the palate, but finishes with great energy, cut and chalky minerals. Lots of personality...
2020
Domaine MontiriusVacqueyras
Château des Roques, Cuvée Blanche, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Noticeably full-bodied, but has the intensity, concentration of flavour and acidity to back it up. Juicy but dry, bright and gently tense, with just a...
2020
Château des RoquesVacqueyras
Domaine de la Verde, Odyssey, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
An oaked style but it's not over the top, it's integrated well into the fruit and adds texture, complexity and length. Adds a little salinity...
2020
Domaine de la VerdeVacqueyras
Château de St Cosme, Le Claux, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Beautifully fragrant nose of star anise, cedar and cigar tobacco. Full-bodied, rounded and seductively plump and juicy, showing clarity, precision and focus on the palate,...
2020
Château de St CosmeGigondas
Domaine du Grapillon d'Or, Excellence, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Spicy reductive edge to the aromas brings some complexity and vivacity to the nose. Powerful acid line and tight, muscular tannins around dark fruits touched...
2020
Domaine du Grapillon d'OrGigondas
Moulin de la Gardette, Ventabren, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
<p>Very ripe with a touch of date and fig to the blackberry fruit. A well-balanced, harmonious style that's searching and intense. Long, with fruity acidity...
2020
Moulin de la GardetteGigondas
Domaine des Bosquets, La Colline, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Fuller-bodied than most 2020 Gigondas, this has good fruit, purity and concentration. Acidity is high - this is crisp and vibrant - and the alcohol...
2020
Domaine des BosquetsGigondas
Domaine des Bosquets, Le Plateau..., Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Earthy liquorice note to the red berry fruit and a touch of blackberry. I like the vibrancy, the intensity. Tannins are fairly low, but enjoyably...
2020
Domaine des BosquetsGigondas
Domaine du Gour de Chaulé, Tradition, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Considerably more interesting on the nose than many Gigondas this year, revealing raspberry, cranberry and oregano. Full-bodied, but a fairly restrained tannic structure. Pure and...
2020
Domaine du Gour de ChauléGigondas
Domaine du Grapillon d'Or, 1806, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Blueberry and liquorice touches to the blackberry fruit. This has more depth and expression than most this year. Good intensity and has plenty of personality....
2020
Domaine du Grapillon d'OrGigondas
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux, Lopy, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Charming and deliciously drinkable now; so focused and precise. Does it have the depth to age? Time will tell. Rounded, fluid and very Burgundian, with...
2020
Domaine Le Sang des CaillouxVacqueyras
Domaine Les Goubert, Cuvée Florence, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Coffee bean and vanilla pod oak work well with the fruit. Full-bodied, there's a little herbal touch in the background, oregano and blackcurrant leaf. Grip...
2020
Domaine Les GoubertGigondas
Domaine Santa Duc, Clos Derrière Vieille, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Soft, rounded, very fluid style with gentle tannins. Soft and pillowy but ending neat and fresh. A charming, red-fruited, drinkable style. No Mourvèdre in the...
2020
Domaine Santa DucGigondas
Domaine Santa Duc, Les Hautes Garrigues, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Strong Mourvèdre profile here, with heavy aromas like a dense fug. Soft, gently unctuous fruit including blackberry and black cherry. Fresh with bold, muscular tannins...
2020
Domaine Santa DucGigondas
Le Clos des Cazaux, Le Souiras, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2020
Dark chocolate and vanilla touches to the black cherry fruit. Middleweight, not excessive, but good concentration and vibrancy running through the wine into the length....
2020
Le Clos des CazauxGigondas
Clos de Caveau, Carmin Brillant, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Fresh, direct, spicy and precise berry fruits. Elegant in structure, with fine tannins and a good sense of focus as well as intensity. Fairly long...
2020
Clos de CaveauVacqueyras
Domaine du Terme, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Christmas aromas of clove and spice. Good weight and concentration of fruit, this has a good shape and is well balanced. Has a bit more...
2020
Domaine du TermeVacqueyras
Domaine la Ligière, Le Mourre de la Caille, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
A little touch of agreeable herbality and black tea on the nose. More tannic than most 2020 Vacqueyras, and with good concentration plus a long...
2020
Domaine la LigièreVacqueyras
Domaine la Monardière, Les 2 Monardes, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Medium-bodied, fruity, fresh, lively and direct. Good sense of energy and focus, with enjoyably crunchy berry fruit and a finely sketched tannic structure. Some length...
2020
Domaine la MonardièreVacqueyras
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux, Doucinello, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France, 2020
Fine, precise, spicy berries and violets. Medium-bodied, fresh and lively. Finishes dry, with fine tannins and a little bit of dried Provençal herbs. Delightful. 20%...
2020
Domaine Le Sang des CaillouxVacqueyras
Domaine des Bernardins, Beaumes de Venise, Rhône, France, 2020
A distinctly elegant style of Beaumes de Venise; gently aromatic, but with a good upswell of tannin and a persistent finish. Well-tailored, with peppery herbs...
2020
Domaine des BernardinsBeaumes de Venise
Domaine La Ferme St-Martin, Les Terres Jaunes, Beaumes de Venise, Rhône, France, 2020
This has more character and concentration than most Beaumes de Venise this year. A touch of plum to the blackberry fruit and it's persistent and...
2020
Domaine La Ferme St-MartinBeaumes de Venise
