E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque

Description

E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque is, alongside La Mouline and La Landonne, simply one of the very best red Rhone wines. These three superstars of the Rhone are sometimes known as the “La Las”.

The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in the village of Ampuis. His son, Marcel, took over from his father in 1961. The Guigal family owns vineyards in Condrieu and in the Côte-Rôtie with illustrious plots in many famous appellations. The wines are made and aged at 12th century Chateau d’Ampuis located in the northern Rhone. In the summer of 2003, in an effort to improve quality and control over all aspects of wine making, Guigal opened an onsite cooperage. The cooperage at the Château d’Ampuis works in partnership with the cooperage at Chagny managed by Seguin Moreau.

The grapes for E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque come from a single vineyard parcel inside the lieu-dit Côte Brune. The soils here are a mix of granite, silica, limestone, schist and clay soils rich in iron oxide. The wine is typically a blend of 7% Viognier and 93% Syrah and is often described as intermediate between La Landonne and La Mouline in style. Guigal purchased the vines in 1980 and the first vintage was released in 1985 with a tiny release of just 200 cases. The vines were entirely replanted and are now over 30 years old. Production is still small, with around 400 cases per vintage.