WTN: Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc and Sablet Rouge

I am usually a red bigot, but I decided to try this wine based on a good review by Gordon Stimmel of the Toronto Star:

GUIGAL 2005 CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC $16.95 (FRANCE)

Complex smoky nectarine aromas, accented with lime, lemon and minerals. The flavours showcase stone fruit (peach, apricot) with mellow lime and gentle floral accents, with peach coming forward nicely on the very long finish.

Food suggestion: A plate of hard cheeses and jams.

Rating: 90

My note:

2005 Cotes du Rhone Blanc E. Guigal, 13% abv

Clear straw yellow with a nose of grapefruit, tangerine and a touch of terpentine. Expressive and full midpalate feel with with generous grapefruit and yellow cherry tomatoes with an acidic zing. Nice long finish of green tomatoes and pineapple with refreshing acidity. Nicely balanced

With food: Nice with chicken swiss (sauce had 1/2 cup of this wine in it).

Better with asparagus and penne with tomato sauce and meatballs. The food seems to complement the wine's fruit tastes and improve the midpalate smoothness of the wine.

Stimmel on a red Cotes du Rhone:

CHATEAU DU TRIGNON SABLET 2004 CÔTES DU RHÔNE – VILLAGES $20.95 (FRANCE)

Part of the Vintages spotlight on France, this is a monster red, with aromas of woodland fires and smoky black cherry. The flavours show violets, scorched earth, with lovely black cherry finesse. Evident tannins, still a very youthful red.

Food suggestion: Rare steak or tartare.

Rating: 90

My note:

Solid garnet red with a slight fade to violet-pink at the edge. Rich nose of red and black fruit, especially strawberry and blackberry. Great balance on the mid-palate with smooth but expressive tannins, dark fruit (expecially black cherry and blackberry) and fresh acidity. A long and luxurious black (mostly cherry) fruit finish.

Again a good food wine that really tried to go with everything thrown at it - roast beef (good match), baked potato with butter and freshly ground black pepper (better match) and curried cauliflower with rotel tomatoes (surprisingly good match considering the medium spiciness of this dish).

I was pleasantly surprised to see the 2004 Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rouge being poured at my husband's college reunion last night. Since the food was barely edible, I could at least drink and enjoy the wine. I was expecting Yellow Tail.
Thanks for the good note on the Blanc.

Hi Diane,

Guigal is one of my favorite Rhone producers. I like the red Cotes du Rhone also, and it has been my house red at times in the past. Guigal seldon disappoints.

CHATEAU DU TRIGNON SABLET 2004 CÔTES DU RHÔNE – VILLAGES $20.95 (FRANCE)

Part of the Vintages spotlight on France, this is a monster red, with aromas of woodland fires and smoky black cherry. The flavours show violets, scorched earth, with lovely black cherry finesse. Evident tannins, still a very youthful red.

Food suggestion: Rare steak or tartare.

Rating: 90

I had an earlier vintage of this Sablet a number of years ago and really loved it. Glad to see they are still going strong. I'll have to go out and find some of this wine again.

-- Clark

Coincidentally, I recently had a bottle of the '05 Guigal blanc and posted a note on it here. I'm not as much of a fan of Guigal as you are, but it is a nice wine, if a bit overpriced in my estimation.

Mark Lipton

Hi Diane,

Guigal is one of my favorite Rhone producers. I like the red Cotes du Rhone also, and it has been my house red at times in the past. Guigal seldon disappoints.

Tom: After tonight, I am a new conmvert to the House of Guigal

Tom wrote.......I had an earlier vintage of this Sablet a number of years ago and really loved it. Glad to see they are still going strong. I'll have to go out and find some of this wine again.

I too have fond memories of Sablet but cannot find at this moment. Guigal, I do not understand all the high praise here? At tastings, have wondered how standards have changed, for the worse.

Well...praise from me for Guigal reflects some degree of inexperience with Rhone wines. All I can say is I found their 2001 C de Pape delicious. I am eagerly awaiting opportunities to try the "better" producers.

Tom wrote.......I had an earlier vintage of this Sablet a number of years ago and really loved it. Glad to see they are still going strong. I'll have to go out and find some of this wine again.

I too have fond memories of Sablet but cannot find at this moment. Guigal, I do not understand all the high praise here? At tastings, have wondered how standards have changed, for the worse.

Hi Bob,

I did not write about having sablet a number of years ago, that was Clark. This was my first sablet and it is not a Guigal it is made by Chateau du Trignon.

My experience with Guigal is limited to Cotes du Rhone rouge (2001-02), Chateauneuf du Pape vertical at MoCool 98-2001, and I have a Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2004 in my cellar now that is quite good, but not impressive. Guigal is good to exceptional in my limited experience and has never been bad or pedestrian.

What is your experience with Guigal Bob?

Yes that Trignon Sablet was superb in the old days, not much around here any more! Guigal, I always seem to go for the whites as I am a big Rhone white fan. I have not tried the high end reds of late but some `03s from CdR and Crozes Hermitage were not to my liking. Short finish, some bitterness, just nothing special.
I am not the big Rhone drinker I used to be so take my thoughts with a pinch of salt please! Wanna talk Malbec, LOL.

Tom,

I tasted a 1996 Guigal Cote Rotie a few days ago, and unless the wine was damaged it is at or approaching it's life. some stewed prune flavors, a little forest floor, no bacon, some herb and vanilla. pretty blah, and I expect more than that for $65. If I could afford them I would drink the la-la's but There are IMO better CndP and CdR wines for less money. Having said that I should at least try the white which I have not had in several vintages.

Hi Bob,

I liked the white and I think you like marsanne, which I found quite prominent in the 2005 Guigal CdR blanc. Try it, I think you will like it.

Chateau du Trignon is the house wine of our favorite restaurant anywhere in the world, Les Abeilles (The Bees.)

The Chateau du Trignon red has paired wonderfully with everything Les Abeilles's Chef Johannes Sailer has served us with it, and with everything I have served with it at home (usually rare to medium-rare beef.)

Les Abeilles is located right down the street from Chateau du Trignon in Sablet. Lovely dining room, rooms available upstairs, friendly management, five minute drive from Gigondas.

After four trips to Europe, Les Abeilles is the one place I have vowed to return to on every future trip to the continent.

Chateau du Trignon is the house wine of our favorite restaurant anywhere in the world, Les Abeilles (The Bees.)

The Chateau du Trignon red has paired wonderfully with everything Les Abeilles's Chef Johannes Sailer has served us with it, and with everything I have served with it at home (usually rare to medium-rare beef.)

Les Abeilles is located right down the street from Chateau du Trignon in Sablet. Lovely dining room, rooms available upstairs, friendly management, five minute drive from Gigondas.

After four trips to Europe, Les Abeilles is the one place I have vowed to return to on every future trip to the continent.

Wow, what a testimonial. I agree with your assessment of the Trignon CdR-V going with about any food. Any red that pairs well with curried vegetables gets my vote as a great food wine - the best kind of wine in my opinion.