Northern Rhone Guigal wines

Yesterday I was in my BAWS and noticed some Guigal wines with a reduced price. There was 2001 Hermitage ~ $35. and some '96 Cote Rotie ~ $45 per 750 ml bottle. Given that the theme for Mo'Cool this year is a revisit to syrah, I was interested in both of these wines.

I would imagine that the 96 Rotie has been on the shelf for a long time, and the Hermitage but still for some years as well, but less that the 96 Cote Rotie (of course). Since I don't usually splurge on northern Rhone wines (price issue) very often, I would appreciate hearing opinions on both of these wines, as well as on Guigal wines in general. I really can't afford any of the LaLa's that are available in this store, but are well north of $200 each.

I'm interested in this also. I'm not a big Syrah fan, however, in addition to MOCOOL, I'm planning on attending a tasting of Cote du Rhone at the local AWS chapter this Sunday (7/12) and I'm supposed to bring a bottle in the $15-20 range, but I don't mind going a bit higher.

Yesterday I was in my BAWS and noticed some Guigal wines with a reduced price. There was 2001 Hermitage ~ $35. and some '96 Cote Rotie ~ $45 per 750 ml bottle. Given that the theme for Mo'Cool this year is a revisit to syrah, I was interested in both of these wines.

I would imagine that the 96 Rotie has been on the shelf for a long time, and the Hermitage but still for some years as well, but less that the 96 Cote Rotie (of course). Since I don't usually splurge on northern Rhone wines (price issue) very often, I would appreciate hearing opinions on both of these wines, as well as on Guigal wines in general. I really can't afford any of the LaLa's that are available in this store, but are well north of $200 each.

If provenance is decent and the store's not overly warm, then grab the Cote Rotie. Decent price too for the Hermitage... but I don't find Guigal's Hermitage that interesting, whereas I love his Cote-Roties and find them generally excellent.

If provenance is decent and the store's not overly warm, then grab the Cote Rotie. Decent price too for the Hermitage... but I don't find Guigal's Hermitage that interesting, whereas I love his Cote-Roties and find them generally excellent.

Thanks for the input Salil. I have intentions of grabbing one and doing some lamb to accompany. I guess it is the store temperature that has me put off a little. I am not sure just what the store's ambient temperature is, but around 70F I would suspect.

[David M. Bueker]

I will echo Salil's comment with one major caveat: 2001 was a much better year in the Northern Rhone than was 1996.

I will echo Salil's comment with one major caveat: 2001 was a much better year in the Northern Rhone than was 1996.

Do 97% of scientists and point keepers say that?

[David M. Bueker]

No, but 100% of this wine drinker does. I never like the '96s.

Since I am not all that familiar with CdR wines, I had to do some research. For the AWS tasting this coming Sunday, I bought two Southern Rhones, as my research showed that Syrah is not a dominant grape variety there. I've had CdP and liked it so I bought a 2005 Chante Cigale. My only reservation is that opening it may be infanticide. And since white or red was not specified, the other wine I bought is a 2008 Ch. de Segries Tavel Rose. I'll post TNs.

Chante Cigale used to be a favorite of mine, back in the 1980s. Then the local New England importer stopped bringing it in and I've lost touch with the estate. Based on what I tasted back then, Chante Cigale needs 5-8 years to learn proper manners.

Grenache, rather than Syrah, tends to rule the roost in the Southern Rhone.

-Paul W.