E. Guigal Côtes-Du-Rhône Rouge 2017

SKU
EGSR201710 UCAU
  • one of the most emblematic of the Guigal domain’s wines.
  • Small quantities are produced each year from a vineyard in the heart of Rhone
  • This is a voluptuous, silky and intensely aromatic wine.
  • 1 or more bottles
    $23.49
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  • Joe Czerwinski
    91 points
  • Jeb Dunnuck
    90 points

Editors notes

Small red fruits, blackberry and floral violet aromas. Intensely aromatic, powerful but full of finesse.

As with the white, the quality of the basic Côtes du Rhône is more than noteworthy, especially when you consider the quantity produced. From a great, great vintage for the Southern Rhône, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône shows an upfront, sunny style as well as Provençal notes of spiced red and black fruits, ground pepper, and garrigue. Drink this medium to full-bodied, ripe, sexy effort over the coming 4-6 years. It will evolve even longer, if you’re so inclined. Drink 2020-2026.

Details

Tasting Profile

  • Light (Light)
    Full (Full)
  • Low Tannin (Low Tannin)
    Tannic (Tannic)
  • Sweet (Sweet)
    Dry (Dry)
  • Low Acidity (Low Acidity)
    High Acidity (High Acidity)
  • Aroma
    • Red Fruits
    • Redcurrant
    • Smoky
  • Palate
    • Earthy
    • Jammy
    • Red Fruits

Food Pairings

  • Game
  • Pork
  • Red Meat

Critic Scores & reviews

  • Joe Czerwinski

    91
    "There are an impressive 4.5 million bottles of the 2016 Cotes du Rhone, a ripe, silky wine that should bring pleasure to thousands of consumers. Cherries and raspberries mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate adds nuances of cola, tree bark and spice. …..it represents a terrific value. Drink 2019-2023."
  • Jeb Dunnuck

    90
    "As with the white, the quality of the basic Côtes du Rhône is more than noteworthy, especially when you consider the quantity produced. From a great, great vintage for the Southern Rhône, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône shows an upfront, sunny style as well as Provençal notes of spiced red and black fruits, ground pepper, and garrigue. Drink this medium to full-bodied, ripe, sexy effort over the coming 4-6 years. It will evolve even longer, if you’re so inclined. Drink 2020-2026."

Other vintages

Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.

Current auction

All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.

Locations

France

Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.

Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.

Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)

The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.

Rhone Valley

The Rhône Valley is in the South of France and is situated in the Rhône river valley. The region has been growing wines for centuries and is generally split into two sub-regions. In the Northern Rhône, Syrah is the predominant grape variety, though it is often blended with other white varieties like Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier, or the red grape Mourvedre. In the Southern Rhône, a wide range of white, red and rosés are produced alongside the undisputed king of the Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The Northern Rhône is cooler than the Southern Rhône and has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winter. The appellations from North to South are Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Château-Grillet, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray.

In Southern Rhône, the climate is more Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous appellation but others include Côtes du Rhône, Gigondas and Lirac. Large pebbles are used in the region, placed at the base of the vines to absorb the suns heat during the day, to keep the vines warm at night.

Châteauneuf-du-Papes are blended from the 13 permitted grape varieties, though Grenache usually dominates, supported by Syrah and Mourvèdre. These wines can be supremely rich and complex and typically warrant 5-10 years in the cellar for best results.

Cote Rotie

The Rhone appellation furthest north is known for its captivating landscapes and exceptional wines, and among its renowned regions, one stands out—the picturesque Côte-Rôtie. Translating to "Roasted slope," this appellation derives its name from the region's steep slopes that face the sun, providing an ideal exposure for the vineyards. Nestled within Côte-Rôtie, two main slopes, known as the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde, showcase distinct characteristics that contribute to the diverse range of wines produced.

As their names suggest, the Côte Brune features darker soils composed of rich clay and iron. These elements impart strength and robustness to the wines cultivated in this area. The Côte Brune wines are known for their firm structure, deep flavors, and remarkable aging potential. The combination of the clay soils' ability to retain heat and the iron's influence on the grapes creates a unique and powerful expression of the terroir.

In contrast, the Côte Blonde boasts lighter soils composed of slate and limestone. This soil composition lends a delicate elegance and a softer touch to the wines produced on this slope. Wines from the Côte Blonde exhibit a graceful character with nuanced flavors, refined aromatics, and a silky texture. The slate and limestone contribute to the wine's finesse by providing excellent drainage, allowing the vines to reach a delicate balance between ripeness and acidity.

It is worth noting that Côte-Rôtie wines can either originate from a single designated slope or be a blend of both. When enjoying a bottle of Côte-Rôtie, the label will indicate whether the wine is sourced from the Côte Brune or the Côte Blonde or if it is a harmonious blend of grapes from both slopes. This labeling practice allows wine enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the distinct characteristics and nuances of each individual slope or experience the beautiful marriage of flavors achieved through skillful blending.

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Frequently Bought With

About the brand Guigal

Despite his young age, Marcel Guigal took over from his father in 1961 when the latter was victim to a brutal illness rendering him blind. Marcel's hard work and perseverance enabled the Guigals to buy out Vidal-Fleury in 1984, although the establishment retains its own identity and commercial autonomy. In 2000, the Guigals purchased the Jean-Louis Grippat estate in Saint-Joseph and Hermitage, as well as the Domaine de Vallouit in Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.

In the cellars of the Guigal estate in Ampuis, the northern appellations of the Rhône Valley are produced and aged. These are the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, hermitage, saint-joseph and crozes-hermitage. The great appellations of the southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-pape, Gigondas, Tavel and Côtes-du-Rhône, are also aged in the Ampuis cellar.

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