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maison-guigal

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Maison E. Guigal

Overview

Maison E. Guigal (Marcel Guigal, now run with his son Philippe) is the dominant négociant-éleveur of the Rhône Valley, based in Ampuis. Founded in 1946, Guigal both farms estate vineyards across multiple appellations and purchases grapes and wine throughout the Rhône. The maison is most famous for its three single-vineyard Côte-Rôtie bottlings — La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne (the “La-Las”) — which have been among the most controversial and discussed wines in the world since the 1980s (lavishly praised by Robert Parker; more skeptically received by traditionalists). Beyond the single vineyards, Guigal makes wines at every quality level across the Rhône, from simple Côtes-du-Rhône to outstanding estate wines.

Key estate holdings include the former Grippat (Saint-Joseph) and Domaine de Vallouit (Saint-Joseph) parcels purchased in 1999–2000, which produce the outstanding “Vignes de l’Hospice” bottling.

Appellations

Key Wines

  • Côte-Rôtie “Château d’Ampuis” — blended from 7 lieux-dits (4 on Côte Brune); 50yo avg vines; 7% Viognier; 36–38 months new oak; 100+ bottle aging potential
  • Saint-Joseph “Vignes de l’Hospice” — old vine (20–80+ years) from Grippat/Vallouit parcels on steep granite hillsides in Tournon and Mauves; new oak aging; one of the finest Saint-Josephs
  • Saint-Joseph (regular) — from same estate parcels, younger vines (20–50 years); “one wine” casks for 24 months
  • Condrieu — 1/3 barrel-fermented; classic Viognier
  • Crozes-Hermitage Blanc — 95% Marsanne, 5% Roussanne; stainless and used barrels
  • Gigondas — négociant; 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre; foudres for 2 years

Style Notes

Guigal’s house style is marked by time in oak — the top wines spend 36–42+ months in barrel (often new), which shapes a distinctive cedar-and-toast profile on top of the underlying terroir. Critics of the style (including Gilman) prefer less oaky Côte-Rôtie; admirers see it as adding complexity and age-worthiness. The “Vignes de l’Hospice” Saint-Joseph is more universally praised as a terroir-transparent wine from exceptional old-vine parcels. The single-vineyard La-Las are extraordinarily powerful and long-lived, if divisive in style.

Tasting Notes (from VFTC #119)

  • 2021 “Château d’Ampuis”: 13%; 7% Viognier; 3 years new oak; rated 94. “New oaky but beautiful wine in that style.” Will always be partially defined by oak but excellent once mature. Drinking window: 2038–2075+.
  • 2022 “Vignes de l’Hospice” Saint-Joseph: 13.5%; rated 94+. “Fairly tightly-knit out of the blocks, but once it is ready to drink it is going to be stunning juice.” Drinking window: 2037–2085.
  • 2021 Saint-Joseph (regular): 13%; rated 93. “Excellent bottle.” Drinking window: 2031–2065+.
  • 2011 “Vignes de l’Hospice” Saint-Joseph: Rated 94. “Now entering its plateau.” Beautiful. Drinking window: 2025–2050.
  • 2009 “Château d’Ampuis”: Rated 93. “New oaky style of Côte-Rôtie” but beautiful; “always be partially defined by its new oak framing.” Drinking window: 2025–2055.
  • 2023 Condrieu: 14%; rated 92. Wearing its heart on its sleeve; delicious now. Drinking window: 2025–2035.
  • 2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc: 13%; rated 92. “Already very tasty.” Drinking window: 2025–2045.
  • 2023 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc: 13%; rated 91.
  • 2021 Crozes-Hermitage Rouge: 13%; rated 90.
  • 2021 Gigondas: 15%; rated 91.
  • 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc: 13.5%; rated 93. “Outstanding.”
  • 2024 Côtes-du-Rhône Rosé: 14.5%; rated 88.

My Tastings

Vintage Assessments (JLL Vintage Reports)

2015: Marcel Guigal declared 2015 “the vintage of my lifetime” — setting the tone for the entire Northern Rhône’s reception of the vintage. The reds were full-bodied and complete from an unusually early stage. See 2015 Rhone Vintage.

2014 Cote-Rotie: Philippe Guigal: “it is a heterogeneous vintage with all levels of quality. It is marked by fruit, a lot of fruit. Its structure is very different from the very tight 2013 which was very concentrated. 2014 is ample, holds good richness, and it is a generous year.” See 2014 Rhone Vintage.

2012 Cote-Rotie / Southern Rhone: Philippe Guigal on 2012 CdR: “we adore this vintage for our Côtes du Rhône, since it ranges from very bad to exceptional.” La Landonne and La Turque both five stars. Ex-voto five stars. Vignes de l’Hospice five stars. A good northern-style vintage. See 2012 Rhone Vintage.

2010 Cote-Rotie: La Landonne, La Mouline, and La Turque all six stars. Le Château d’Ampuis five stars. Hermitage Ex-voto five stars. Saint-Joseph Vignes de l’Hospice six stars. A vintage of extraordinary balance — JLL compares to 1978. See 2010 Rhone Vintage.

2009 Cote-Rotie: La Landonne, La Mouline, and La Turque all six stars. Le Château d’Ampuis and Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph both five stars. A magnificent vintage across the Northern Rhône. See 2009 Rhone Vintage.

2008: Condrieu La Doriane rated ★★★★★★ (“finesse, power,” drink 2018-19). Philippe Guigal: “The best, most handsome crop I have brought in for La Doriane so far was in 2008.” Guigal standard Condrieu also ★★★★(★) (“great finesse”). Crozes-Hermitage red led the appellation at ★★★(★) (drink 2018). CdP 2006 rated ★★★(★) (drink 2026-27). In 2005, JLL recalls buying four cases of Guigal’s La Landonne and La Mouline for 80 Francs (GB8 pounds) a bottle — “those were the days, when these wines were not rationed simply because they were not known.” See 2008 Rhone Vintage, 2005 Rhone Vintage.

Sources

  • sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Sept-Oct 2025 #119.txt — Annual Rhône Report (John Gilman, October 2025)
  • sources/articles/JLL/rhone_vintage_reports.json — JLL vintage reports 2005-2024

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