2003 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis
Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone,
FRANCE
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen
Closure: Cork
Other Reviews….
All six component parts of the 2003 Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis possess remarkable intensity. The individual ratings are as follows: La Garde (93-95), La Clos (94-96), Grande Plantee (94-96), Pommiere (95-97), Pavillon Rouge (94-96), and Le Moulin (95-97). Powerful, rich, and full-bodied, with an abundance of sweet cassis and cherry fruit interwoven with smoky bacon, roasted meat, and dried herb notes, tremendous glycerin and sweetness to the texture, it is a big, voluptuously-styled Cote Rotie that should drink well for 15-20 years.
Marcel and Philippe Guigal, never content to rest on their already impressive credentials, announced that in the future, they expect to release another single vineyard Cote Rotie from a 3.7 acre parcel in the Viria vineyard on the Cote Brune. The first vintage or two will probably be added to the Chateau d’Ampuis. If the potential turns out to be as exceptional as they believe, lovers of these great wines will have a fourth single vineyard Cote Rotie called Viria to contemplate.
There are many admirable things about Marcel Guigal, but most significant is that he has been a qualitative locomotive that has brought attention to the Rhone Valley, and has raised the quality bar for the entire region. More importantly, he realizes that most consumers will have access only to his least expensive wines from the Cotes du Rhone, so he has made every effort to continue to increase the quality of both his white and red Cotes du Rhones. His Cotes du Rhone whites have jumped in quality as he has settled on a general blend of approximately 50% Viognier and the rest Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc.
94-97 points
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate
All six component parts of the 2003 Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis possess remarkable intensity. The individual ratings are as follows: La Garde (93-95), La Clos (94-96), Grande Plantee (94-96), Pommiere (95-97), Pavillon Rouge (94-96), and Le Moulin (95-97). Powerful, rich, and full-bodied, with an abundance of sweet cassis and cherry fruit interwoven with smoky bacon, roasted meat, and dried herb notes, tremendous glycerin and sweetness to the texture, it is a big, voluptuously-styled Cote Rotie that should drink well for 15-20 years.
Marcel and Philippe Guigal, never content to rest on their already impressive credentials, announced that in the future, they expect to release another single vineyard Cote Rotie from a 3.7 acre parcel in the Viria vineyard on the Cote Brune. The first vintage or two will probably be added to the Chateau d’Ampuis. If the potential turns out to be as exceptional as they believe, lovers of these great wines will have a fourth single vineyard Cote Rotie called Viria to contemplate.
There are many admirable things about Marcel Guigal, but most significant is that he has been a qualitative locomotive that has brought attention to the Rhone Valley, and has raised the quality bar for the entire region. More importantly, he realizes that most consumers will have access only to his least expensive wines from the Cotes du Rhone, so he has made every effort to continue to increase the quality of both his white and red Cotes du Rhones. His Cotes du Rhone whites have jumped in quality as he has settled on a general blend of approximately 50% Viognier and the rest Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc.
94-97 points
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate