Introducing Tank 11: Moulin de la Gardette
JB on the left, with Keith, Rudi from Ch. Montfaucon, Trey Beffa, and Clyde Beffa center. At K&L Culver City.
One of the newest arrivals in our Discovery Series comes from a producer very near and dear to my heart. Earlier this year, while traveling through the Rhône Valley, I found myself in Gigondas—and of course I had to visit Jean-Baptiste Meunier of Moulin de la Gardette. JB represents one of our longest-running Direct Import relationships in the region, and his wines have always embodied the essentials of great Rhône winemaking: terroir expression, purity of fruit, and a character that reflects both the land and his thoughtful touch.
There’s a recent development at Gardette. JB’s daughter, Zoé, has recently joined the winemaking team after completing her oenology degree and completing stages at several wineries. For three generations now, the family has relied on large, older foudres, concrete tanks, and some stainless steel, with all fermentations conducted using native yeasts. The philosophy is simple: grow healthy grapes from distinct sites, intervene lightly, and craft wines that capture what makes Gigondas singular and compelling.
I’ve visited Gardette close to a dozen times over the years, and every time I’m struck by the same thing: the care, the precision, and the conviction with which the wines are made. Even in the trickiest vintages, JB (and now Zoé!) create wines of depth and feeling. On my last trip, we enjoyed the 2011 Ventabren, sourced from some of their oldest and highest-elevation parcels. It was magnificent. The vintage was elegant compared to the powerhouse 2010 vintage that preceded it. No dramatic weather swings but smaller berries making wines that had great intensity but brighter acidity. This Ventabren was beautifully balanced, layering plum compote, rosemary, and grilled meat notes with a harmony of sweet and savory that felt perfectly integrated.
During this most recent visit, I was on the hunt for something special for our Discovery Series. JB and I tasted the upcoming 2023s—bright, elegant, and remarkably balanced—and various components of the 2024s still resting in tank and foudre. The 2024 growing season brought plenty of early rain, followed by a hot August and drying winds. Gigondas fared better than many surrounding appellations, benefiting from stronger winds early in the growing cycle.
Then I noticed a tank in the corner labeled Tank 11.
I asked JB what its juice was destined for. He explained that some might go into the Petite Gardette, some would be used to top up the Tradition during élevage, and the rest would likely be sold off in bulk. All of it came from the 2024 vintage.
Of course, I asked to taste it.
Wow.
The wine was vibrant and bright—medium-bodied, juicy, and delicious from the first sip. A core of black raspberry and strawberry confit intertwined with lavender, garrigue, and a gentle incense-like spice on the finish. The vintage is lighter overall, and this lot wasn’t as dense as the final blends of Tradition or Ventabren. But that’s music to my ears—and to my palate. I adore Rhône wines that are youthful, energetic, and simply fun to drink—wines that leap out of the glass.
So instead of letting the remainder be sold off, I asked if JB would bottle it for us.
And that’s how 2023 K&L Discovery Series Rhône, Gigondas "Tank 11 by Moulin de la Gardette" $19.99 was born.
I am pleased to offer this Gigondas as our first Discovery Series wine from the Rhône. I can think of no better partner to launch this series than Jean-Baptiste Meunier and his family at Moulin de la Gardette. The purpose of the Discovery Series is simple: to introduce you to wines of genuine quality and character from the producers we love most—wines that showcase the best their regions have to offer at prices everyday consumers can embrace. I hope you enjoy this bottle as much as I did.