2012 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde, France, Rhone, Wine Review

With all of the top level wines from Guigal, sometimes, this one gets lost in the mix. That's a shame because this is am outstanding wine and an excellent value in Cote Rotie. Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is a bit earthy with black raspberries, spices, black olives and slight dark chocolate. Medium to full bodied. Medium tannins. Good balance. On the palate, this is on the leaner side but still has a great delivery. Boysenberries, char and some earthiness. Good finish. This seems to be about at peak but should have another ten years. Good on its own, it would be better with a little food. A black bean based chili would work well.

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2012

Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we reported on American Rhone-style wines we tasted at the 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008. We noted that this event was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective because, unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. While this was a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers weren’t represented, there was still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts.

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Northern Rhone Red: The Original Syrah

It’s summer, which means that for three months we say goodbye to rich, heavy red wines and welcome into our repertoire zippy whites and crisp roses to sip on the porch while soaking in the sun. That’s what most of the country does, at least. But not here. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, whose summer comes in the fall and spring, whose spring comes in the winter, and whose winter comes in the summer (and whose fall never comes).

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2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

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2017 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde de Guigal, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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2017

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$70.00USD

This is the basic Cote Rotie from purchased fruit. It is 96% Syrah with 4% Viognier that saw 36 months in barrel, half of that new oak. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is very nice with black raspberries, black pepper, black olives and slight smoke. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char. Plenty of depth. Long finish. This is delicious on its own and should be very food friendly. It would be perfect with a steak. Drink over the next ten to twelve years.

Do Northern Rhone Syrahs Have to Break the Bank?

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The classic red wines of the Northern Rhone Valley are some of the world’s greatest. Hermitage, Côte Rôtie and Cornas reds are the finest expressions of Syrah on earth. But the best of them have gotten to be very expensive, especially in American dollars. Recent vintages of Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave are now more than $200 per bottle (and his scarce, top cuvee, Cathelin, is over $1,000). Guigal’s Côte Rôtie La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque are nearly $250 per bottle, and even the Guigal Côte Rôtie Brune et Blond bottling is over $75.

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2012 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde, France, Rhone, Wine Review

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Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

Northern Rhone Red: The Original Syrah

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

2017 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde de Guigal, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Do Northern Rhone Syrahs Have to Break the Bank?