The Guigal domain, founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis, traces its roots to vineyards over 2400 years old, still marked by Roman terraced walls. Etienne, who began winemaking at 14, crafted 67 vintages and helped develop Vidal-Fleury before his son Marcel took over in 1961 after Etienne’s sudden blindness. Marcel’s determination led to the acquisition of Vidal-Fleury in 1984 and later estates in Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Crozes-Hermitage. Today, in the cellars of Ampuis, the Guigals produce and age the renowned northern Rhône appellations—Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage—alongside celebrated southern Rhône wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Tavel, and Côtes-du-Rhône.
The 2022 Cotes du Rhone Rouge is a deep and dark red. On the nose intensely aromatic, with black fruits and spices. The palate is full, round and sexy. Round and smooth tannins present through the full bodied, ample wine. Overall a complete wine, with a long finish, with elegance and finesse accompanying the abundance of fruit and well-balanced tannins.
Blend: 50% Syrah, 45% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre
92 Jeb Dunnuck The Cotes Du Rhone is smoking good, offering up blackberries, pepper, and garrigue in a round, supple, medium to full-bodied style. Based on 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre, partially aged in oak foudres, this impressive effort shows remarkable quality for the appellation.
91 Wine Enthusiast Black plum and cocoa-dusted, white-button-mushroom aromas bump against raspberry and black tea, on the nose. The palate is fulsome in body yet reserved in flavor with red fruit riding all the way to the finish that is made more complex by velvety tannins that demure.
90 Falstaff With savouriness and fruit on the nose, light and dark wild berries, plum, cinnamon, clove, nougat chocolate. Powerful on the palate with sun-kissed fruit, fresh and juicy with well-integrated acidity and velvety tannins, a perfect accompaniment to a barbecue when slightly chilled in summer.
90 Decanter Modern, lifted and a bit heady, but attractive and evocative. Black cherry inkiness segues into a dense palate where all the fruit is crammed into a structured body with drying tannins. Herbs and stones hemmed in by a firm grip. A good all rounder. Drink Window: 2024 - 2030
