Lot presentation

Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis Guigal 2011

The wine

Produced since the 1995 vintage, the Château d'Ampuis cuvée is named after a property acquired and renovated by Marcel Guigal. One of Guigal's "Treasures", it comes from vineyards with an average age of 35 to 40 years, located in seven exceptional Côte-Rôtie terroirs. Harvesting is as late as possible, followed by a period of fermentation in stainless steel tanks, then a 38-month élevage in new oak barrels. Château d'Ampuis has a dark, very deep colour. This tannic, racy wine develops aromas of spices and small red berries on the nose, followed by flavours of prune, blackberry and vanilla. Excellent fullness; it is clear the tannins have been well integrated during their élevage.

About the Producer Guigal

Located in Ampuis, the cradle of the Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Guigal was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal who arrived in the region in 1923 at the age of 14. Guigal has contributed enormously to putting this appellation on the map. In 1961, the young Marcel Guigal took over the reins. Driven by a desire to produce high quality wines, this young vigneron undeniably changed the perception of Côte-Rôtie wines. Nowadays, the brilliant oenologist Philippe Guigal – Marcel's son – runs the estate.
The vineyard now also runs over to the Rhone valley's prestigious appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Gigondas, Crozes-Hermitage. They are all vinified and matured in the cellars of Ampuis. Marcel Guigal and his son Philippe continue to devote considerable care to all of the winemaking process: low-intervention viticulture, work done entirely by hand, given the parcel's location on a 45 degree slope, vinification in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats, maturation in new oak barrels for 42 months, to allow the wine to fully develop its aromas etc. The house produces three cuvées “prestige” - La Landonne, La Mouline et La Turque – a sublime trilogy which wine connoisseurs go mad for.
The headquarters of the estate is the Château d'Ampuis, a jewel of the Renaissance which is listed as a Historic Monument. The Guigal signature is one of the most emblematic of the Rhone Valley, it shines for its infallible constancy and rigorous grape production.