2016 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis
96 JD / 95 WA / 95 VM
$113.89/750ml (In Stock) Buy Now
Moving to the top Côte Rôties, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Chateau D'Ampuis comes from a blend of top sites (7 different lieux-dits) and sees the same care and élevage as the La Las. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as a stunning nose of black raspberry and cassis interwoven with notes of bacon fat, spring flowers, violets, and smoked game, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and gorgeous overall balance. The tannins are polished, and it has wonderful sweetness of fruit as well as considerable elegance. A classic 2016 that does everything right, it cedes very little, if anything, to the more expensive single vineyard releases. Readers that love classic Côte Rôtie should buy this by the case. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+.—Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis remains a wonderfully harmonious, medium to full-bodied effort, possessing tremendous energy and length. Cedary notes accent red raspberries on the nose, while the streamlined palate brings hints of cherries and blueberries, and the finish adds wiry, herb-and-spice intricacies. This has gained in stature since my last barrel tasting.—Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
Extremely dark ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented cherry and dark fruit preserve, exotic spice, licorice and incense aromas show sharp delineation and pick up hints of candied flowers and olive with aeration. Sweet, seamless and broad on the palate, offering intense boysenberry, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Repeats the blue fruit note on an impressively persistent, spice-tinged finish that features sneaky tannins and an appealingly sweet cola flourish.—Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media
Also Available:
2020 Guigal La Doriane Condrieu
99 JD / 95 DE / 95 JS
$83.89 (Pre-arrival) Buy Now
(Lowest published price in the US)
Just about pure perfection and one of the finest Condrieu to pass my lips, the 2020 Condrieu La Doriane offers an insane bouquet of grilled pineapple, charcoal, crushed stone, acacia flowers, and white peach. It picks up an incredibly sense of salinity on the palate and is full-bodied, has blockbuster concentration, remarkable purity and focus, and a great finish. I like this beast/beauty today, but it will keep for a decade. - Jeb Dunnuck
Full-bodied and very rich, but there's plenty of salinity to balance the oak work, which is robust but very high quality. Fresh and drinkable already, as flamboyant as ever and with a long finish. From lieux-dits Chatillon, Chéry, Vernon, Colombier and Château de Vallon in Malleval (where soils are granite with iron oxide). 100% new oak barriques.--Matt Walls, Decanter
What a fascinatingly smoky and flinty nose this Condrieu has! I love the touches of vanilla bean, mandarin orange peel and jasmine that emerge as you swirl the glass. It masters a remarkable balance on the expansive and subtle palate, a hint of bitterness helping to balance the softness and creaminess of the long finish. Drink or hold.--James Suckling
