Guigal
Encyclopedia
Guigal, formally Établissements Guigal, is a winery
and négociant
business situated in Ampuis
in the northern part of the Rhône
region in France
. Guigal produces wine from appellations across the Rhône region, but is particularly noted for their Côte-Rôtie wines and played a pioneering role in improving Côte-Rôtie's international reputation. Guigal's single vineyard wines La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque (sometimes referred to collectively as "La La's") are internationally renowned. In 2007, the release of the 2003 vintage
of Guigal's "La La" wines set the record for most expensive release of any Rhone wine, with bottles retailing for as much as $800.
and the Domaine de Vallouit, with vineyard holdings in Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage
, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage
, which added some high-end vineyards in other appellations to the Guigal range. In 2006 the Domaine de Bonserine was purchased by Guigal. In recent years, Marcel's son Philippe Guigal has been active as a winemaker
at Guigal.
Guigal, under Marcel Guigal, came to international fame in the early- to mid-1980s when Robert M. Parker, Jr.
followed by other wine critics heaped praise on Guigal's top Côte-Rôtie wines, in particular the three single vineyard wines La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque. Parker comments that "In the past 26 years I have spent visiting wineries and vignerons, I have never seen a producer so fanatical about quality as Marcel Guigal." This attention contributed to the Rhône wines' improved international fame in general, and in particular led Côte-Rôtie to be seen more on par with Hermitage than in previous times. This also meant that the top Côte-Rôtie wines increased in price to reach and later follow and sometimes surpass that of the top Hermitage wines. In 2006 Marcel Guigal was awarded the Decanter
Man of the Year award for his contribution and dedication to the Rhône.
's name with similar-looking wine labels across the range.
The high-end wines, on the other hand, have individual labels of very varying design and mostly carry vineyard designations, sometimes an official lieu-dit
and sometimes Guigal's own designation. These wines are only produced from Guigal's own vineyards.
Guigals total vineyard holdings is slightly over 45 hectares (111.2 acre), of which around half is in Côte-Rôtie.
Of the 25,000 cases of wine typically made in the Condrieu
appellation each vintage, around 45% is produced by Guigal.
For the vineyard Côte-Rôties, Guigal has received more 100 point ratings by Robert M. Parker than any other single wine producer. As of 2009, this meant 21 wines, consisting of seven vintages of La Landonne (1985-2005), nine vintages of La Mouline (1976-2005), and five vintages of La Turque (1985-2005).
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
and négociant
Négociant
A négociant is the French term for a wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name....
business situated in Ampuis
Ampuis
Ampuis is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France....
in the northern part of the Rhône
Rhône (wine region)
The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée designations...
region in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Guigal produces wine from appellations across the Rhône region, but is particularly noted for their Côte-Rôtie wines and played a pioneering role in improving Côte-Rôtie's international reputation. Guigal's single vineyard wines La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque (sometimes referred to collectively as "La La's") are internationally renowned. In 2007, the release of the 2003 vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
of Guigal's "La La" wines set the record for most expensive release of any Rhone wine, with bottles retailing for as much as $800.
History
Guigal was established in 1946 by Étienne Guigal, who had worked for Vidal Fleury for 15 years before setting up his own business. It has been managed by his son Marcel Guigal since 1961. In 1984, Guigal bought Vidal Fleury but continues to operate it as a separate business. In 2000, Guigal bought and absorbed two other wineries: the estate Jean-Louis Grippat in Saint-JosephSaint-Joseph AOC
Saint-Joseph or St.-Joseph is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the northern Rhône wine region of France. Though the appellation covers the largest amount of land, it is second in actual size under vine to Crozes-Hermitage, an appellation with which it shares much regarding style...
and the Domaine de Vallouit, with vineyard holdings in Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage
Hermitage AOC
Hermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon. It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape; however, small quantities of white wine are also produced from Roussane and Marsanne grapes...
, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-Wine:Wine is produced under the Crozes-Hermitage AOC designation.-References:*...
, which added some high-end vineyards in other appellations to the Guigal range. In 2006 the Domaine de Bonserine was purchased by Guigal. In recent years, Marcel's son Philippe Guigal has been active as a winemaker
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
at Guigal.
Guigal, under Marcel Guigal, came to international fame in the early- to mid-1980s when Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. is a leading U.S. wine critic with an international influence. His wine ratings on a 100-point scale and his newsletter The Wine Advocate, with his particular stylistic preferences and notetaking vocabulary, have become very influential in American wine buying and are...
followed by other wine critics heaped praise on Guigal's top Côte-Rôtie wines, in particular the three single vineyard wines La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque. Parker comments that "In the past 26 years I have spent visiting wineries and vignerons, I have never seen a producer so fanatical about quality as Marcel Guigal." This attention contributed to the Rhône wines' improved international fame in general, and in particular led Côte-Rôtie to be seen more on par with Hermitage than in previous times. This also meant that the top Côte-Rôtie wines increased in price to reach and later follow and sometimes surpass that of the top Hermitage wines. In 2006 Marcel Guigal was awarded the Decanter
Decanter (magazine)
Decanter is an up market magazine on wine and spirits, published in over 90 countries on a monthly basis. The magazine content includes news from the industry, vintage guides and wine recommendations. Decanter organizes the annual Decanter World Wine Awards.-Wine Ratings:Decanter employs a 1 to 5...
Man of the Year award for his contribution and dedication to the Rhône.
Wines and vineyard holdings
Guigal produces a wide range of red, white and rosé wine from the northern and southern Rhône appellations. These wines are sold under the appellationAppellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
's name with similar-looking wine labels across the range.
The high-end wines, on the other hand, have individual labels of very varying design and mostly carry vineyard designations, sometimes an official lieu-dit
Lieu-dit
Lieu-dit is a French toponymic term referring to an uninhabited place yet bearing a name...
and sometimes Guigal's own designation. These wines are only produced from Guigal's own vineyards.
Guigals total vineyard holdings is slightly over 45 hectares (111.2 acre), of which around half is in Côte-Rôtie.
Of the 25,000 cases of wine typically made in the Condrieu
Condrieu AOC
Condrieu is a French wine-growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée located in the northern Rhône wine, near Vienne and to the south of the Côte-Rôtie AOC...
appellation each vintage, around 45% is produced by Guigal.
Côte-Rôtie wines
The Côte-Rôtie wines, for which Guigal is most famous, are produced on three quality levels:- Brune et Blonde de Guigal (previously known as just Brune et Blonde), the basic Côte-Rôtie carrying the names of the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde parts of the appellation, and featuring a standard Guigal label. Typically a blend of 4% ViognierViognierViognier is a white wine grape. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone valley.-History:The origin of the Viognier grape is unknown. Viognier is presumed to be an ancient grape, possibly originating in Dalmatia and then brought to Rhône by the Romans. One legend...
and 96% Syrah.
- Château d'Ampuis, a blend of six vineyards of Côte Brune and Côte Blonde, and priced between the Brune et Blonde and the vineyard-designated wines. Typically a blend of 7% Vigonier and 93% Syrah. Produced since the 1995 vintage, it is named after the 11th century fort and historical monumentMonument historiqueA monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
in AmpuisAmpuisAmpuis is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France....
that was purchased in 1995, restored and setup as Guigal headquarters.
- La Landonne, a vineyard-designated wine made from 100% Syrah, and therefore often the most tannic of the three top wines. Produced since the 1978 vintage.
- La Mouline, a vineyard-designated wine from a parcel inside the lieu-dit Côte Blonde. Typically a blend of 11% Vigonier and 89% Syrah and therefore often the most floral of three top wines.
- La Turque, a vineyard-designated wine from a parcel inside the lieu-dit Côte Brune. Typically a blend of 7% Vigonier and 93% Syrah and often described as intermediate between La Landonne and La Mouline in style.
For the vineyard Côte-Rôties, Guigal has received more 100 point ratings by Robert M. Parker than any other single wine producer. As of 2009, this meant 21 wines, consisting of seven vintages of La Landonne (1985-2005), nine vintages of La Mouline (1976-2005), and five vintages of La Turque (1985-2005).
Other high-end wines
- CondrieuCondrieu AOCCondrieu is a French wine-growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée located in the northern Rhône wine, near Vienne and to the south of the Côte-Rôtie AOC...
La Doriane, from the three lieux-dits Côte Chatillon, Colombier and Coteau de Chéry. - Condrieu Luminiscence, a sweet Condrieu only produced in some vintages.
- ErmitageHermitage AOCHermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon. It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape; however, small quantities of white wine are also produced from Roussane and Marsanne grapes...
Ex Voto red, from old vineOld vineOld vine is a term commonly used on wine labels to indicate that a wine is the product of grape vines that are notably old. The practice of displaying it stems from the general belief that older vines, when properly handled, will give a better wine...
s in the four lieux-dits Bessards, Greffieux, Murands and Hermite. 100% Syrah. Produced since the 2000 vintage. - Ermitage Ex Voto white, from old vines in the two lieux-dits Murets (90% of the wine) and Hermite (10% of the wine). Typically a blend of 90% Marsanne and 10% RoussanneRoussanneRoussanne is a white wine grape grown originally in the Rhône wine region in France, where it is often blended with Marsanne. It is the only other white variety, besides Marsanne, allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Hermitage AOC and Saint-Joseph AOC...
. Produced since the 2001 vintage.
- Saint-JosephSaint-Joseph AOCSaint-Joseph or St.-Joseph is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the northern Rhône wine region of France. Though the appellation covers the largest amount of land, it is second in actual size under vine to Crozes-Hermitage, an appellation with which it shares much regarding style...
Lieu-dit Saint-Joseph red. 100% Syrah. - Saint-Joseph Lieu-dit Saint-Joseph white. Typically a blend of 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne.
- Saint-Joseph Vignes de l'Hospice red. Produced from a formerly church-owned vineyard that was divided between the two estates of Grippat and Vallouit before it was bought by Guigal. 100% Syrah. Produced since the 1999 vintage and priced higher than the Lieu-dit Saint-Joseph wine.