Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis Guigal 1996 (Red)

Located in Ampuis, the cradle of the Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Guigal was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Guigal has contributed enormously to putting this appellation on the map, an appellation that was nearly lost to the phylloxera crisis at the close of the 19th century, the economic crisis of 1929 and the the two World Wars. 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 enologist Philippe Guigal – son of Marcel – runs the domain. The house produces three cuvées “prestige” - La Landonne, La Mouline et La Turque – a sublime trilogy which wine connoisseurs go mad for. 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. Marel 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 situation on a 45 degree slope, vinification in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats, élevage in new oak barrels for 42 months, to allow the wine to fully develop its aromas etc. The headquarters of the domain 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.

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.

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