E. Guigal Tasting at Mesa Grill

J&P Wholesale proudly presented E. Guigal portfolio tasting at Mesa Grill.

Philippe Guigal, the estate’s oenologist and Eve Ryckewaert, E. Guigal’s marketing manager personally presented E. Guigal’s current vintage and new releases.  For those who don’t know, E. Guigal is both a grower and negociant. The estate has vineyards in Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Crozes Hermitage, Hermitage and Saint Joseph.  All other AOC are not estate grown.  The turnout was incredible for this tasting. Almost everyone in the industry (locally speaking) was present or represented. Dana Hanusova, Mesa’s sommelier was my tasting partner for this event.

My top six picks of the tasting are:
Condrieu “La Doraine” 2006: This 100% Viognier is aged for 9 months in new oak barrels.
This white wine has a complex bouquet with aromas of acacia, linden, apricot, white peach, roasted almonds and a touch of vanilla.  Rich, full bodied, nicely rounded and well balanced.  One of my favorite whites of the tasting. Ready to drink.

Ermitage Ex-Voto 2001: This 95% Marsanne, 5% Roussanne, is aged 18 month in new oak barrels.  Personally it had the characteristics of a wine aged a lot longer in new oak to me.
For your information, I was told that this wine was only made in the greatest vintages.
This white wine has a complex bouquet and aromas of acacia, peach almost white peach, quince, honey, oak, toast, clove, vanilla and roasted almonds.  Very rich and fatty, with a long spicy finish. Should be ready to drink within the next 3-5 years.

St. Joseph “Vignes de L’Hospice” 2004: This 100% Syrah is aged for 30 months in new oak barrels.
This deep red wine, ruby colored with purple hues, has aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, a hint of prune or over-ripe cherry, wood spices, coffee, leather, oak, vanilla pod and toast. Big yet elegant tannins and well-rounded. Long smooth finish. Ready to drink.

Cote Rôtie “La Turque” 2004: This 93% Syrah, 7% Viognier is aged for 42 months in new oak barrels.
This deep red wine, ruby colored with dark hues, has aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, morello cherry covered with dark chocolate, violet, coffee, spicy wood, maybe even truffle, oak, vanilla, toasted seeds… Full bodied, elegant, well rounded with an unctuous texture and a lingering finish.  Should drink beautifully in 3-5 years.

Côte Rôtie “Château d’Ampuis” 2004: This 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier is aged for 38 months in new oak.
This ruby red wine has a complex bouquet, with aromas of raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, prune, dried herbs, violet, and hints of vanilla, coffee, toast and smoke. Medium bodied, elegant and well structured with no overpowering tannins which gives it a nice and lengthy finish.  Ready to drink and will age well for the 10+ years to come.

Côte Rôtie “Château d’Ampuis” 2000: This 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier is aged for 38 months in new oak.
This garnet red wine has a complex yet delicate bouquet, with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, maybe even raspberry, prune, musk or leather, dried herbs, violet, hints of vanilla and toast. Medium bodied, well structured with good tannins which gives it a smooth finish.  Ready to drink. 

That’s it for this tasting.

Cheers!

This entry was posted on 12. May 2008 at 23:49 and is filed under Wine Tastings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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