Description
E. Guigal, Côte-Rôtie “Château d’Ampuis”
Attention! For those who missed the rapid 2008 sellout from several months back, didn’t want to shell out $175, or simply want to add another sensational vintage of Guigal’s iconic Château d’Ampuis to their collection, I strongly advise exercising urgency today because their 2013 release is a more affordable, critically beloved masterpiece—and we have even less to share.
Sourced from seven steeply terraced micro-parcels within a stone’s throw of their “La La” cult cuvées and matured for 38 months in tight-grained new French oak, this luxurious and exceptionally age-worthy Côte-Rôtie powerhouse is a Syrah lover’s dream. It’s also the closest one can get to experiencing their $350-$800+ La Turque, La Mouline, or La Landonne bottlings without shelling out nearly as much. Speaking of, here’s a hot tip: Keep your eyes peeled for our afternoon offering…
When you first sit down to learn about the Rhône Valley’s long list of venerated producers, you’ll undoubtedly see two names at the forefront: Guigal and Chapoutier. Both are family-run enterprises that purchase fruit from the valley’s greatest appellations while also maintaining their own enviable collection of vineyards. Guigal is largely synonymous with the Northern Rhône, specifically Côte-Rôtie, because their founder Etienne Guigal put down roots here in 1924 and subsequently produced an astounding 67 consecutive vintages. Two generations have passed since then, and each has added to the empire’s fame: First, it was the acquisition of Vidal-Fleury, followed by the historic and breathtaking Château d’Ampuis, then Domaines Jean-Louis Grippat and de Vallouit. More recently, there have been several other property investments, too, but today we’re focused on Château d’Ampuis.
Overlooking the Rhône River with Côte-Rôtie’s terraced hills in the immediate backdrop, Château d’Ampuis is a spectacle to behold—but it was in a serious state of decline when Guigal acquired it in 1995. So, they ordered a massive team, led by Jean-Gabriel Mortamet, Chief Architect of Historic Monuments, to fully restore Château d’Ampuis back to its 12th-century glory. It took over a decade, but the payoff was huge. The Guigal family now owns an impressive network of 50-year-old parcels throughout the famed lieux-dits of Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, several of which were utilized to create today’s 2013. Each one enjoys extremely close proximity to Guigal’s famous “La La” parcels (La Mouline, La Turque, La Landonne) and it shows in the wine.
In the cellar, fermentation occurred in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks followed by 38 months of maturation in new, tight-grained French barrels. In fact, starting in 2003, the Guigals launched their very own in-house cooperage so all of the barrels used for today’s 2013 were dried, built, and toasted by their own team! Upon bottling, the final blend was 93% Syrah, rounded out by Viognier.
Remember, Guigal’s top wines rest for over three years in new French oak, so they always deliver powerful, spicy, silky layers with an intense ferocity lurking beneath. Use your best judgment, but I would recommend a two-hour decant before slowly savoring this full-throttle 2013 Syrah in Bordeaux stems. Jeb Dunnuck initially called it the “hidden gem [of] the vintage given its fabulous concentration and sweet tannin.” He also labeled it “full-bodied with fabulous purity, high yet integrated acidity, and a big finish,” and gave notice that “it will need 7-8 years of cellaring, but will handsomely reward patient consumers.” That review was back in 2015, and 2022 marks the seventh additional year of cellaring. Meaning, this has entered a remarkable drinking window, one that won’t even consider closing for 15 years. We hope you enjoy this Côte-Rôtie behemoth!
