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E. GUIGAL
Domaine E. Guigal is one of France’s iconic wine producers with one of the world’s most sought after and collectible line-ups of wines. In 1946, the Guigal estate was founded by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis – the heart of the Côte Rôtie – in one of the greatest Syrah terroirs. With a winemaking history dating back more than 2,400 years, these slopes offered equal measures of extreme winemaking and farming challenges, juxtaposed against the gift of deep, dark, complex and age-worthy nectars born from these impossibly steep “roasted slopes”. Through the acquisition of several neighbouring properties, the Guigal range today includes wines grown across the most celebrated villages of both the northern and southern Rhône Valley, including Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Condrieu, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Tavel.
Wines produced under the Guigal label are all vinified at the historic Château d’Ampuis, an ancient “fotress” originally built in the 12th century and later expanded and renovated in the 16th century. Today, the Guigal family takes immense joy in building on the family legacy of sharing the emotions and expressions of the great wines coaxed from these rich, privileged terroirs. From the humble and delicious Côtes du Rhône, through the rare, single-vineyard Côte Rôtie bottlings, the entire range reflects the Guigal family’s tremendous pride in and dedication to showcasing the viticultural potential of this ancient winemaking region.
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2012 CROZES-HERMITAGE ROUGE
Established in 1937 – and then expanded in 1952 – the commune of Crozes-Hermitage may not be as acclaimed or expensive as the neighbouring Hermitage or Côte Rôtie appellations of France’s Northern Rhône, but these wines offer immense drinking pleasure and perfect companions for hearty carnivorous summer fare. Reds here are produced almost entirely from Syrah grown on lighter clay/limestone soils found in the flats beneath the steeper slopes of Hermitage, yielding wines that are a touch lighter than their cousins from the slopes above, and are more accessible offering drinking pleasure at a younger age.
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WITH FOOD
To sum it up succinctly, this wine offers a torrid love affair when served with grilled red meats. From slow roasted leg or shoulder of lamb to thyme or rosemary crusted beef on the grill, the inherently peppery and juicy red and black fruit profile of fine northern Rhône Syrah is simply sensational served alongside summer BBQ favourites.
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RECIPE IDEAS
Bistro Style Bavette Steak w/ Lemon & Thyme
Tuscan Porterhouse – Bistecca Alla Fiorentina
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EXPERT OPINION
“With the new amphitheatre of vines. Mercurol, Larnage, no fruit from the Plaine de Chassy which can produce rather soft fruit. All raised in oak – foudres and third-use barrels. Very good juicy Syrah fruit, energetic and muscular. Not that much tannin.”
–Jancis Robinson, MW
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Producer: E. Guigal
Wine: Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
Origin: Northern Rhône, France
Vintage: 2012
LCBO #: 704908
Price: Sold Out! But please browse ADDITIONAL VINTAGES AND OFFERINGS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE from Guigal.
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