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J & P Wholesale proudly presented the E. Guigal wine tasting at the 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 wine releases at the tasting.  For those who don’t know, E. Guigal is both a wine grower and a négociant.  The E. Guigal estate has vineyards in Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Crozes Hermitage, Hermitage and Saint Joseph.  All other AOCs (Appellation d’origine contrôlée) are not estate-grown.

The turnout for the E. Guigal wine tasting was incredible.  Almost everyone in the industry (locally speaking) was present or represented.  Dana Hanusova, Mesa Grill’s sommelier was my tasting partner for this event.

Wine Reviews and Wine Tasting Notes:  My Top 6 E. Guigal Wines

The following are my wine tasting notes on and brief wine reviews of my top six picks at the E. Guigal wine tasting:

Condrieu “La Doraine” 2006

This 100% Viognier is aged for 9 months in new oak barrels.  This white wine has a complex bouquet with the aromas of acacia, linden, apricot, white peach, roasted almonds, and a touch of vanilla.  Rich, full-bodied, nicely rounded, and well-balanced, this was one of my favorite white wines at the tasting.  Ready to drink.

Ermitage Ex-Voto 2001

I was told that this wine is only made in the greatest vintages.  This 95% Marsanne, 5% Roussanne is aged for 18 months in new oak barrels.  It seemed to me, though, that this wine has the characteristics of wine aged a lot longer in new oak.

This white wine has a complex bouquet and the aromas of acacia, peach (almost white peach), quince, honey, oak, toast, clove, vanilla, and roasted almonds.  It is very rich and fatty with a long spicy finish.  This wine should be ready to drink after 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 is ruby colored with purple hues.  It has the aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, a hint of prune or overripe cherry, wood spices, coffee, leather, oak, vanilla pod, and toast.  Well-rounded, it has big yet elegant tannins and a long and 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 is ruby colored with dark hues.  It has the aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, morello cherry covered with dark chocolate, violet, coffee, spicy wood, maybe even truffle, oak, vanilla, and toasted seeds.  It is full-bodied, elegant and well-rounded with an unctuous texture and a lingering finish.  This wine should be beautiful after 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 the 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, it has a nice and lengthy finish.  Ready to drink and will age well in 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 the 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, it has a smooth finish.  Ready to drink.

That’s all for this wine tasting.  Cheers!