($32, Vintus):  To my mind, Guigal is a genius.  And this wine shows why.  Gigondas is usually a big burly wine reflective of its home in the rugged area of the southern Rhone.  With concentrated black fruit-like flavors sprinkled with black pepper notes, Guigal’s 2007 Gigondas certainly has the burly aspect covered.  Where Guigal excels is the overall class that he imparts to the wine, taming it without losing anything. 92 Michael Apstein May 8, 2012