2014 Domaine Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Rouge Les Quatre Terres 750 ml

Top Cotes du Rhone Honors

“The Domaine Santa Duc has emerged in just over a decade as the number one estate for quality in Gigondas.” None other than Robert Parker penned these words in his 2005 book The World’s Greatest Wine Estates. More than a decade later, they’re still one of the brightest stars in the Southern Rhône thanks to Yves Gras, the fifth-generation vigneron Wine Enthusiast calls “one of the appellation’s standard bearers.” His knack for producing elegant, polished wines transcends borders — grapes culled from four of Gigondas’ neighboring sub-regions drives the rich, amply textured 2014 Domaine Santa Duc Côtes du Rhône Rouge Les Quatre Terres. This complete expression of the Southern Rhône Valley isn’t an easy label to find — an element that makes its incredible value even more remarkable. Collectors have been waiting for this one to hit the market. At $19.99 per bottle — prepare to be impressed.

The secret to Gras’ Southern Rhône success stems from his deep respect for the terroir — a strategy that’s been in place at the estate since the first building was erected in 1874. These traditions haven’t gone unnoticed — the estate is considered one of the region’s pioneers in organic viticulture. His level of reverence came in handy in 2014’s glorious vintage. The warm, dry weather that blanketed the Côtes-du-Rhône heightened the grapes’ velour-like juiciness — an element that makes the Southern Rhône so irresistible.

The “Quatre Terres” on the 2014 Domaine Santa Duc Côtes du Rhône Rouges Les Quatre Terres label translates into “The Four Lands.” The phrase is a specific shout-out to Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Roaix, and Seguret, a quartet of appellations whose distinct terroirs are shaped into a Grenache-dominant red of full-bodied purity.