Guigal 'Hermitage' 2019
The Wine
Guigal’s Hermitage Rouge perfectly captures the essence of the Northern Rhône Valley, offering a unique profile of red wines found nowhere else. It combines warm flavors of red and black fruits with exotic spice notes that are simply delightful. Hermitage is one of France’s most iconic and stunning appellations in the Rhône, known for producing limited quantities of intensely flavored, ageworthy red wines and a small amount of dry white.
The Guigals own four parcels in Hermitage, featuring limestone, clay loam, and sandy topsoils over granite bedrock. To complement their holdings, they also buy grapes from small growers. On average, the vines are 30 years old.
Hermitage is hand-picked and then undergoes a vinification process lasting about three weeks in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is aged for 36 months in barrels made exclusively by Guigal, with half of them being new. It is bottled without fining or filtration. This bold and intense wine requires extended aging in both barrel and bottle before release to fully integrate and develop its rich bouquet and flavors of black fruits, minerality, and game.
The wine is aged for 36 months in barrels coopered exclusively by Guigal, 50% of which were new. Bottling was without fining or filtration. This robust and powerful wine especially needs the extended aging both in barrel and in bottle before release so that it can integrate and develop its bouquet and palate of black fruits, minerality and game.
The 2019 vintage in the Northern Rhône seems nearly perfect. After a cool spring, flowering occurred as expected, resulting in a normal crop—a welcome change after two short harvests. While hail affected Crozes Hermitage, vineyards further north remained untouched. July was the hottest month on record in the Rhône, but August brought much-needed rain, leading into a warm and steady September with ideal harvest conditions.
94-96 Pts Jeb Dunnock, Sept 22 'I loved the 2019 Hermitage, which tastes more like a flagship release than a base Hermitage. Blackberries, crushed stone, burning embers, espresso, and violets all emerge from this inky hued 2019 that’s full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, background oak, and a great finish.'
95 Pts Vinous 'Glass-staining ruby. Powerful, mineral- and smoke-accented black and blue fruit, potpourri, olive and vanilla aromas acquire a spicy nuance as the wine opens up. Offers densely packed cherry-cola, cassis and blueberry flavors that show excellent clarity and a smoky top note. Finishes impressively long, youthfully chewy and spicy, with building tannins and a suave, lingering candied violet note. 50% new oak.'
The Details
Variety - Shiraz
Country - France
Region - Northern Rhone
Sub Region - Hermitage
Extra - Cork
Year - 2019
Volume - 750ml
