One of the powerhouses of the Rhône and a name synonymous with beautifully crafted wines from some of the regions finest vineyard sites. After 15 years working at Vidal-Fleury, Etienne Guigal formed his own estate in 1946, joined by his son Marcel in 1961 and by 1984, they had purchased Vidal-Fleury and took control of 35% of the Côte Rôtie harvest. They purchased the Château d'Ampuis in 1995, today fully restored, it is the headquarters of the estate and home to the Guigal cooperage. Marcel's son, Phillipe is the winemaker and Guigal produce a range of stunning wines from across the terroirs of the Rhône. 

Wonderfully perfumed and floral, the 2017 Cote Rotie La Turque was singing at full voice when I tasted it. The marvelous blueberry and raspberry fruit is broad and expansive on the full-bodied palate without being heavy or overly rich, perfectly framed by soft, dusty tannins on a lingering finish. It will be fascinating to follow this wine and compare it over the decades to the 2015 and 2018. Date: Dec 2019; Drink: 2022-2040; Rating: 97-99 Points; Joe Czerwinski; Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate