2018 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis

2018 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis

2018 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis Parker on Guigal: “One of the reference point estates for top quality wines in the world today, the family-run Guigal operation was created in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Today, Etienne’s son, Marcel, and his son, Philippe, are firmly in control here, and are without a doubt producing some of the most singular, sought-after wines in the world. Due to the size of this tasting, I’ll keep my comments short, but the incredible quality coming from this operation is astounding, and a tasting here is always one of the highlights of any trip through the region. Furthermore, while a lot is said about the extended oak aging regime here, I don’t know anyone who tastes mature examples of these wines on a regular basis that still has any doubts about the genius going on here. In short, these Cote Roties are some of the greatest wines money can buy.”

“I was blown away by the 2018 Côte Rôtie Château D’Ampuis, which is certainly in the same league as the famed La Las. Coming from seven single vineyards and seeing the same upbringing as the flagship releases, this reveals a vivid purple hue as well as stunning aromatics of cassis, smoked game, spring flowers, and subtle smoke. It has background espresso-laced oak that’s perfectly integrated, it’s full-bodied, and it has ripe, polished tannins and a great finish.” 99pts JD 

This is one of my all-time favorite wines. The 1999 was a monumental wine moment for me. The wine floored me, like nothing I had tasted before and my love affair with the great Cote Rotie had started. These wines age better, develop incredible depth and flavors as they age and have soaring fruit concentration that boggles the mind. The greatest of all Cote Rotie are Guigal’s La Las. These three single vineyard wines Guigal La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque are legends in the wine world but are up there in price, in top vintages sell for $500 to $1000 per bottle. The wine that blew me away many years ago and the wine I offer you today is the 2018 Guigal Chateau d’Ampuis is a blend of Guigal’s single vineyards, in great vintages like 2017, 95pts Parker vintage, rivals the quality of the great single vineyards but comes in at a fraction of the price. The wine gets its name from actual Chateau d’Ampuis that was purchased by the Guigal family, one of the jewels of the Renaissance period overlooking the Rhone River and dating back to the 11th century. The 2018 d’Ampuis is an amazing wine, a huge 99pts by Jeb Dunnuck with a huge upside. Parker comments that the Guigal family is the modern world’s greatest testament to a family run winery. They continue to push the envelope greater and greater heights and 2018 d’Ampuis displays these virtues. What a wine! I highly recommend! Our price is strong with a savings of 25% which you never see on a wine like this. Definitely going into my cellar.