The story of the Guigal family is a young but remarkable one. Etienne Guigal was the youngest in his family, but as the most resilient he was sent off on his own at a very young age when his family could no longer afford to care for him. He came to Ampuis to pick apricots, labor he found preferable to his previous work underground in mines. In the early 1930s his brother helped Etienne, still only 14 years of age, secure a job in the vineyards at Vidal Fleury, then the largest and strongest winery in the Rhone. Etienne started pruning in the vineyards and rose to Maitre de Chai over the course of 15 years, before eventually leaving in 1946 to start his own firm, E. Guigal. Etienne's son Marcel became involved very early in the business when in 1961 he was forced to rush back from school because his father was suddenly struck with total blindness. Marcel has led the firm since, and his unparalleled work ethic and dedication to quality have lifted the Guigal wines to the pinnacle of the wine world, and the Guigal domaine to its status as the leading winery from the Rhone Valley. In the process Marcel brought attention to Côte-Rôtie and other appellations throughout the Rhone that were in danger of being lost in the annals of wine history, despite the region's distinguished past of 2,500 years as a superior wine-producing area, and the cradle of wine civilization in France. Today, Marcel's son Philippe serves as Director and Oenologist at Guigal, and with his father is carrying on the tradition of leadership in the Rhone Valley and uncompromising excellence. The Guigal firm is extraordinary in a number of dimensions. First is their decision that they will only purchase vineyards that are capable of producing truly great wines. Therefore despite their important production, they own only 150 acres, all in the Northern Rhone. They own overwhelmingly the finest collection of vineyards in Côte-Rôtie, the finest, carefully selected sites in both Condrieu and Saint Joseph, four exquisite parcels in Hermitage, and some of the finest vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage. These 150 acres are truly the finest sites in the Northern Rhone, and serve as the source for their estate-bottled wines and the foundation for their Northern Rhone appellation wines. A second important dimension is Guigal's approach to viticulture. The Guigal family is tireless in its work on the steeply sloped, terraced vineyards it owns, with views entirely to the long-term. They are methodically re-building vineyards today that won't be planted for another five to ten years because of their belief in the soils, expositions and mesoclimates of these sites. Their philosophy in the vineyard is to prune low and strictly limit the number of shoots per vine, training for low vigor and low-yields and looking for natural balance and concentration in this manner. No pesticides, herbicides or chemicals are used in the vineyards, and the fact some of Guigal vines date back to the 1890s is a testimony to the nurturing, obsessive approach the Guigals have in their vineyards. Thirdly, Guigal is a unique negociant company. The family knows the Northern Rhone like no one else, and supplements their holdings by buying grapes from long-time grower partners. In total, they vinify around 33% of Côte-Rôtie and 45% of Condrieu, and have access to top fruit in all the regions they work. In the Southern Rhone, they buy only wine, and with a distinctive approach. Namely, they do not have a single contract. Marcel and Philippe taste relentlessly and start from scratch every year. In a given year, they will purchase the top 1% of the wines they taste, and because of their longtime contacts, they have access to the best wines in the region; they select, in other words, 1% from the very finest wines in the Southern Rhone. Also important to note, they decide very early on what wine they will purchase, sometimes before malolactic fermentation is even finished, and they will not purchase later to meet demand. From their experience, access, and early work, they give themselves the opportunity to find the best possible wines, and if they find a great wine they buy it, regardless of vintage or price considerations. The Guigal's work ethic in finding the best fruit and wines in the Rhone Valley can be summarized by the motto on the Chateau d'Ampuis: "Nul bien sans la peine" – no good without pain. Fourthly, Guigal's vinfication is singular in the world of wine, and allows their great raw materials to flourish in the bottle. Their vinification approach actually harkens back to tradition in the Rhone Valley, with long ageing, which integrates tannins and flavors and creates wines of great complexity and refinement. Because of their superior fruit, the Guigals do not make "simple" wines – these wines demand time to come together. All wines undergo natural yeast fermentations, and intervention is at a bare minimum, with no fining or filtration. The top Guigal wines undergo famously long maturation period in barrel, up to three and a half years, but even parcels of old-vine Syrah for their Côtes du Rhône are aged in foudres for six months, completely atypical for the Côtes du Rhône category. The Guigals are so exacting about the ageing process that, finding inconsistent barrels from even the best tonnelleries, they make every barrel that is used in their winery, with five barrels produced by hand every day by their single cooper at the Chateau d'Ampuis; they are the only winery in the Rhone Valley with their own cooperage. These barrels are destined for their Northern Rhone wines, while they use foudres built to exacting specifications for their Southern Rhone wines. The reality is that it is enormously expensive to hold onto 3 or 4 vintages of Chateauneuf-du-Pape or Côte-Rôtie, or even to hold onto Côtes du Rhône that is two or three vintages behind what other producers are releasing, but it is done for the quality of the wine, and so that consumers can enjoy the wines for drinking upon release. The more you learn about the Guigal family, the more astounding becomes their story. Their wines are the benchmarks for every Rhone appellation, and over the last thirty years they have become arguably the most lauded producer in the world. Year after year the Guigal family produces wines of exceptional quality that in all classes offer exceptional value. "The Guigal family may be the modern world's greatest testament to a family-run winery with impeccably high standards, integrity and an uncompromising vision of the future." Wine Advocate
Wine Enthusiast 90 "Raspberry and bramble notes are delicate on the nose but intensify on the palate of this juicy, watermelon-kissed wine. A deep salmon-pink in
Wine Enthusiast 91 A predominance of Viognier lends a plump, peachy flair and silken mouthfeel to this full-bodied, fleshy white blend. Matured entirely in stainless steel,
Wine Advocate 91 "A ripe, silky wine that should bring pleasure to thousands of consumers. Cherries and raspberries mark the nose, while the medium to
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 "Showing incredible complexity as well as a sexy, sunny, medium to full-bodied profile. Lots of spice, pine needle, garrigue, and earthy red
94cFrance » Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Wine Advocate 91-93 “Darker and plummier than the 2016, Guigal’s 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is another fine effort from this quality-conscious négociant. It’s full-bodied,
Vinous Media 90 "Saturated ruby. Ripe black raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of cracked pepper, allspice and pungent flowers. Supple, appealingly sweet red
Jeb Dunnuck 92 "The 2016 Ctes du Rhne is more full-bodied and generous, with a layered, ripe, sexy style. Its has similar aromatics to the
Wine Advocate 90 "Guigal's plump, medium-bodied 2018 Cotes du Rhone Rose is a reminder that this family firm continues to value flavor throughout its
Vinous Media 91 "Light yellow. Mineral-tinged aromas of Meyer lemon, pear and white peach are complemented by a suave floral overtone. Juicy, pure and energetic on
Vinous Media 94 "Limpid yellow. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented pear, white peach and Meyer lemon scents are accompanied by hints of violet, saffron and honey that build
Wine Advocate 89 The 2017 Cotes du Rhone Blanc includes a majority of Viognier (as usual), supported by 15% to 20% Roussanne and bit of other
Vinous Media 90 Pale pink. Highly perfumed strawberry and candied rose scents, joined by a slowly building hint of orange zest. Dry and brisk on the
James Suckling 93 Attractive, fresh apricots and white nectarines. White flowers, too. Very fresh and bright. The smooth and even palate has a very rich and
Wine Advocate 90 Guigal now bottles approximately 40% of the appellation's total production, so it's fortunate that the 2016 Condrieu is a fine ambassador for the
Jeb Dunnuck 94 From one of the great vintages for the region going back decades, the 2016 Chteauneuf-du-Pape boasts a deep, layered, powerful style yet has
"Guigal has a specific philosophy with rose, one that results every year in one of the best-selling quality roses in the country. They want freshness,
Soil type: Varied soil, sediment, limestone, granite. Grape variety: 65% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 8% Marsanne, 8 % Clairette, 2% Bourboulenc, 2% white Grenache. Average age of vines:
Jeb Dunnuck 92 "The 2016 Ctes du Rhne is more full-bodied and generous, with a layered, ripe, sexy style. Its has similar aromatics to the
Jeb Dunnuck 95 "The finest effort Ive tasted from this estates Gigondas, their 2016 is a drop-dead gorgeous wine that competes with the best in
Wine Spectator 96 "This ripples with stunning raspberry and boysenberry coulis flavors, inlaid liberally with anise and apple wood notes and carrying through a well-defined finish.
Wine Advocate 95 "Guigal's 2015 Condrieu is a blockbuster that, if not for its big brother, would be one of the wines of the vintage. Aged
Wine Advocate 89-91 The 2015 Cotes du Rhone marks a terrific return to form for this cuvée. It’s intense and peppery, with concentrated black cherry fruit,
Wine Advocate 90 One of the finest roses from this team yet, the 2015 Cotes du Rhone Rose from Guigal (60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 10%
Wine Advocate 91 Another terrific white is the 2015 Cotes du Rhone Blanc, a cuvee that continues to over-deliver in just about every vintage. Tasting like
Wine Enthusiast 92 WE TOP 1002019 Rank 76 " Pert black-cherry and blackberry flavors are anchored by an invigorating granite backbone in this bold but elegant red.