I was invited by Wine Affair to a lunch at the amazing Operakällaren to taste the new releases from Guigal alongside some older vintages. Philippe Guigal participated (after some initial technical difficulties) via Zoom and gave valuable information about the wines, vintages and much more, with his usual wit and charm.
A fantastic tasting!
Tasting
2019 Condrieu
An open, flowery nose with notes of peach, lavender and mosquito repellent. Very, very good.
The taste is pure and fleshy with notes of rose water, ripe peach and chrushed rocks. Long, fine with a good acidity.
90p (tasted 2020/10)
2018 Condrieu La Doriane
I was fortunate enough to taste this and the Ex Voto below a couple of weeks ago and my impressions were the same as then.
93p (tasted 2020/10)
2016 Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc
See above.
96p (tasted 2020/10)
2017 Saint Joseph Vignes de L´Hospice
A deep, peppery nose with notes of cold meat, sun warm rocks and violets. Very pure and racy.
The taste is young, tight and concentrated with notes of violets, ripe blueberries and warm tiles. Polished tannins. Very long and very fine. 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2020/10)
2016 Côte-Rôtie Château d´Ampuis
A very handsome, meaty nose with notes of ripe blueberries, bacon fat and ripe dark flowers.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of scorched earth, blueberries, minerals and some tobacco notes. Long and balanced. 8+ years.
95p (tasted 2020/10)
2016 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
The three La La´s is simply amazing wines, with their own distinct character. La Mouline, normally my favourite, offers up a seamless nose with notes of ripe flowers, blackberries, violets and fresh herbs. Lovely.
The taste is taut and focused with notes of licorice, blackberries, rosemary and a gorgeously perfumed note. The finish goes on and on. 10+ years.
97p (tasted 2020/10)
2016 Côte-Rôtie La Turque
On this occasion, La Turque, got my nod as the finest in this line up. The nose is dark and earthy with notes of granite, violets, meat and dried strawberries. Very complex and utterly gorgeous.
The taste is spicy and concentrated with notes of violets, salted blueberries, granite and dry licorice. The finish is counted in minutes. Just stunning. 10+ years.
98p (tasted 2020/10)
2016 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
I was very fortunate to taste this stunner a couple of weeks ago and it behaved identical at this tasting.
98p (tasted 2020/10)
Lunch
2019 Côtes du Rhône Blanc
Some wines to go along the splendid food served. First up the perennial fine bottle of white Côtes du Rhone from Guigal - spicy and perfumed with fine yellow fruit, a good acidity and length.
87p (tasted 2020/10)
2019 Condrieu La Doriane
The one year younger version of La Doriane is even better than the bottle above. The nose is deep and complex with notes of quince, fish sauce, sun warm rocks and ripe flowers. Gorgeous.
The taste is racy and refined with notes of ginger, ripe yellow pears, mineral and dried flowers. Very long. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2020/10)
As with the white, this is great value for money. The nose on the red is fresh and fruity with notes of ripe lingonberries, blueberries, earth and ligthly seared meat. Very, very good.
The taste is cool and clean with soft tannins, a good lenght and fine blueberry/raspberry fruit. Perfect for drinking now but this can age for 10+ years.
88p (tasted 2020/10)
2011 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
The order is restored! I have La Mouline as favourite among these three 2011. The nose is deep, maturing and just lovely with notes of dog fur, dried up raspberry jam, forest floor, lavender and white pepper. A very fine sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is rich and perfumed with notes of undergrowth, dried raspberries, lavender and sweet tobacco. Very long and velvety. Mature for a nine year old La La but ooooh so good.
95p (tasted 2020/10)
2011 Côte-Rôtie La Turque
A very tight, inky nose with notes of cranberries, dried blueberries, bonfire smoke and iron. Sturdy and fine. Some maturity. Very fine.
The taste is restrained and earthy with notes of dried blueberries, iron, dry tobacco and warm tiles. Very long. More backbone than La Mouline. 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2020/10)
As always, the most backward of the three, the La Landonne display a deep, dark nose with notes of dried herbs, blackberries, green peppers, smoke and some barnyard aromas, in a Bordeaux kind of way. Very fine.
The taste is tight and seedy with stern tannins, dark fruit and a finish that goes on for over a minute. Iron, violets, damsons. Needs time, 8+ years. Not the biggest charmer today.
93p (tasted 2020/10)
2005 Côte-Rôtie Hommage Etienne Guigal
Only made in magnums (300 bottles) this 15 year old Hommage offers up a deep, smoky nose with notes of dried blueberries, soft earth, dried herbs and cigarette ashes. Deep and fine but lacks a little finesse.
The taste is big and brawny with notes of dried blueberries, violets and iron. Long and fine with some rugged tannins. Very, very good.
92p (tasted 2020/10)
Sounds like an amazing wine lunch :-) Cheers!
ReplyDeleteIt was! :-)
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