dick wrote:

> Thanks. Sorry for this question...is Gigondas wines similar to C De
> Pape...just on of same village?
>
> What is difference in D De Pape and Gigandas?

Dick,
Both are typically Grenache-based wines, but there are some stylistic
differences (though with the growth of "modern"-styled CdP and Gigondas,
that's not a universal statement). CdP (barring Beaucastel, which is a
style unto itself) is fairly tannic in its youth, with exuberant cherryish
fruit, pepper and herbal (or meaty) character. Gigondas tends to be a bit
more rustic, emphasizing the herbal/meaty character, but also less
long-lived. Where most of my '90 CdPs are going strong, most of my '90
Gigondas is at the end of its lifetime.
Regarding your original question, you should definitely spend a day or
two visiting Bandol (just W of Nice). Places to visit there are Dom. St.
Anne, Dom. du Gros Noré and perhaps Tempier. I'd also recommend a small
detour W of the Rhone to the Herault and Pic St. Loup. Some places to visit
there are Grange de Peres, St. Martin de la Garrigue, Ch. La Roque and Mas
Clavel. The local coops are not too bad, either.

Mark Lipton