Why it matters
The producer
Domaine Saint Damien is the Saurel family's domaine at La Beaumette in Gigondas. The estate works organically, with Grenache as the principal grape in its Gigondas vineyards. Its wines span Gigondas, Plan de Dieu, Côtes du Rhône Villages and Vin de France, and the domaine keeps production at the property from vinification through bottling.
The name on the label belongs to a family with vineyard history at the property, while the range brings several appellation names into one domaine. Gigondas carries the named cuvées, Plan de Dieu supplies a separate appellation wine, and Vin de France allows Le 10 de Saint Damien to sit outside those place names.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
At La Beaumette, Domaine Saint Damien is based in Gigondas, with vineyards extending across Gigondas, Plan de Dieu, Côtes du Rhône Villages and Vin de France. These designations place the wines under different geographic categories, from the home appellation to a broader Vin de France label.
The Gigondas range includes Classique, Louisiane and Les Souteyrades. La Louisiane uses a named place within Gigondas, while Plan de Dieu Vieilles Vignes and Le 10 de Saint Damien carry different appellation or category names on the label.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Grenache leads the Gigondas plantings, joined by Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Syrah. Red grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and fermented in large old cement tanks. Extended skin maceration keeps the grape skins in contact with the fermenting wine, extracting colour, tannin and aroma.
The Gigondas wines mature in large old foudres, which are oak vessels that allow gradual oxygen exchange without the strong new oak flavour of small new barrels. Bottling takes place without fining or filtration, leaving the wines in their unclarified, unfiltered form.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range centers on Gigondas and Plan de Dieu, supplemented by Côtes du Rhône and Vin de France bottlings. Within Gigondas, Classique, Louisiane and Les Souteyrades provide the named cuvées.
Plan de Dieu Vieilles Vignes is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre. The 2024 wine fermented for 30 days in concrete before maturing for 10 months in concrete tanks and large old oak foudres.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Choose La Louisiane. It is one of the named Gigondas cuvées, made from 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and a combined 5% Cinsault and Syrah. The grapes macerate for six weeks in concrete vats, then mature for 12 months in oak foudre.