Joel Saurel

Domaine Saint Damien

St. Damien was an Early Christian saint (martyred in the year 287 A.D.), considered the patron saint of doctors. There was a chapel to his honor in the tiny hamlet of La Baumette, just outside the village of Gigondas, where Joel Saurel lives. M. Saurel’s ancestors thus took the name Saint Damien for the domaine.

La Baumette is the "hot corner" of the Gigondas appellation – great exposure, galets roulees like Chateauneuf. Some of the oldest vines of the appellation are in this area, and Joel Saurel owns a nice chunk of them over 100 years old. Largely Grenache (over 90%), traditional vinification (no pigeage or new oak here!) and bottling without fining or filtering, result in full-bodied, complex classic Gigondas. Even our "basic" cuvee is from vines averaging 70 years.

Souteyrade is one Joel’s best parcels, particularly in hot years, making a true vin de garde Gigondas, with great weight and power, as well as majestic structure.

M. Saurel also has a few hectares of Cotes du Rhone in the Plan de Dieu, also in old vines. From these low yielding vines comes a warm, rich, spicy Cotes du Rhone – all one needs in a glass of wine.

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, Issue #106 :

2001 Gigondas Cuvee Les Souteyrades: "Superripe aromas of roasted black raspberry and chocolate. Finishes with ripe, chewy tannins and strong fruit. 89-92."

Technical Information:
Domaine Saint Damien 2006 Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien 2005 Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien 2005 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien 2004 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien 2005 Gigondas La Louisiane Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien  2004 Gigondas La Louisiane
Domaine Saint Damien 2005 Gigondas Les Souteyrades Vieilles Vignes
Domaine Saint Damien 2004 Gigondas Les Souteyrades