A Guigal Lunch

Philippe Guigal was in town a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky enough to get invited to a lunch tasting, courtsey of Vinunic.

2015 Côtes du Rhone Blanc
A youngish, upfront nose with notes of a fruit salad, warm rocks and summer flowers. Light and nice.
The taste is good and fresh with notes of melon, mature apples and wet stones. Medium bodied. A very nice aperitife wine.
86p   (tasted 2016/11)

2014 Condrieu
A deep, spicy nose with notes of sun warm grape, smoke and minerals. Very good. Finely structured.
The taste is racy and fat (in a good way) with notes of grapefruit juice, hay and smoke. A fine acidity. Viognier isn´t my favourite grape, but this has vitality.
90p   (tasted 2016/11)

2012 Hermitage Blanc
A very flowery, rich nose with notes of ripe melon, yellow apples and spices. Very good. Deep.
The taste is big and broad with notes of mature apples, herbs and minerals. A touch of alcohol in the end of the finish. Very long.
88p   (tasted 2016/11)

2012 Côtes du Rhone
The red Côtes du Rhone has a young, perky nose with notes of blueberries, cloves and some peppery aromas. Light and good.
The taste is more rustic than the nose leads you to believe, with notes of dry blueberries, road dust and some pepper. A bit anonymous.
84p   (tasted 2016/11)

2013 Crozes Hermitage
A young, upfront nose with notes of grilled meat, liquorice and ripening blackberries. Very, very good. Has a fine depth.
The taste is tight and peppery with notes of blueberries, bay leaves and damp earth. A long finish with some juicy tannins. This is good.
89p   (tasted 2016/11)

2013 St. Joseph Vignes de l´Hospice
This is a beauty. A richly perfumed nose with stunning notes of ripe blueberries, raspberries, lavender, cloves and decaying flowers. Lovely.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of blueberries, ink, veal stock and crushed black peppers, A long, tightly knit finish with polished tannins. Love this one.
94p   (tasted 2016/11)

2012 Hermitage
The Hermitage displays a meaty nose with notes of spices, blackberries and a hint od dark chocolate. Deep and fine.
The taste is big and warm with notes of ripe blueberries, bay leaves, forest floor and smoke. A very good length. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2016/11)

2012 Côte-Rôtie Brunet et Blonde
A deep, black nose with notes of peppered blueberries, scorched earth, violet and crushed rocks. Very, very good.
The taste is medium bodied and linear with notes of veal stock, ripening blackberries and dried herbs. A fine minerality. A bit shy though. Give it 2-3 years.
90p   (tasted 2016/11)

2012 Château d´Ampuis
A wonderful, deep, perfumed nose with notes of sweet violets, gravel, liquorice and spicy blueberries. Very fine. Deep and refined.
The taste is young and big with notes of cool blueberries, bay leaves, asphalt and leather. Very handsome. Long and lingering.
93p   (tasted 2016/11)

2012 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
Aaaaah - La Mouline, my favourite of the three La La´s. The 2012 is a stunner with deep, intense notes of white peppered blueberies, roasted nuts, veal meat and a beautiful flowery aroma. Very, very deep.
The taste is lovely, refined and focused with stunning fruit, velevety yet structured tannins and a finish that goes on for minutes. Considering what other world class wines are selling for these days, this seems like a bargain at 280 Euros...
98p   (tasted 2016/11)

2012 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
The 12 La Landonne is denser and darker than the La Mouline, with notes of meat, iron, hot rocks and a wonderful smoky note. Very, very fine.
The taste is powerful, intense and meaty with notes of dark violets, smoke and ripe blackberries. A stunning concentration. Long, long, long. Needs 10+ years. Gorgeous.
97p   (tasted 2016/11)

1999 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
I tasted all the 99´s when they were about the same age as the 12´s above, and then the La Mouline was a perfect specimen. Now, about 13 years later, this bottle isn´t. But make no mistake, it is still a lovely wine.
The nose is deep and perfumed with lovely notes of leather, raspberries, corinthians, moist forest floor and some rubbery scents. Very fine and balanced.
The taste is starting to mature with ripe raspberry fruit, and notes of fir, white pepper and smoke. The finish is very long and velvety. Drinking beautifully today but this still has 10+ years pleasure to give.
94p   (tasted 2016/11)

1999 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
The 99 Landonne is still a brute, with a dark, concentrated nose filled to the brim with sweet, sweet blueberries, violets, blood & iron and some stable aromas. Very, very fine. After some time in the glass a fine scent of dried flowers emerge. This is truly great.
The taste is big and concentrated with notes of ripe blackberries, melted asphalt, violets, meat stock and bay leaves. The finish goes on for minutes and ends with some ripe tannins. Great now, great in 10+ years. A lovely bottle but a bottle three years ago was even better.
96p   (tasted 2016/11)