E. Guigal

Hermitage 2017

Hermitage

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Guigal’s Hermitage Rouge is a true expression of the Northern Rhône Valley, where the red wines have a profile unlike anywhere else in the world, an irresistible combination of warm flavors of red and black fruit and exotic spice notes that bring great pleasure.

Hermitage is one of France’s most spectacular and famous appellations within the Rhône, producing small quantities of extraordinarily intense and ageworthy red wine and tiny amounts of dry white. The entire vineyard consists of 309 acres planted on a single granite hillside on the banks of the Rhône. In Guigal’s hands, the Hermitage Rouge is a racy wine, that manages to remain seductive.

VINEYARD

The Guigals own 4 parcels in Hermitage, planted on limestone, clay loam and sandy topsoils that lie above the granite mother rock. To supplement this, they will also purchase grapes from small growers. Overall, vine age averages 30 years.

WINEMAKING

Hermitage is picked by hand before undergoing a vinification of around 3 weeks in temperature controlled stainless steel vats.

The wine is aged for 30-36 months in barrels coopered exclusively by Guigal, 50% of which were new. Bottling was without fining or filtration. This robust and powerful wine especially needs the extended aging both in barrel and in bottle before release so that it can integrate and develop its bouquet and palate of black fruits, minerality and game.

Vintage

Following the classic 2016 vintage, 2017 in the Northern Rhône was a year of contrasts and challenges. Following a very dry winter, spring was wet with hail and frost in some areas, reducing the crop considerably. Summer was characterized by periods of extreme drought, which continued through the fall, interrupted by some needed rain in early September. The crop in Hermitage was about 25% smaller than usual. However, the fruit was clean and extremely concentrated, with rich but round tannins, producing dense wines of balance, length and long aging potential. Guigal’s 2017 Hermitage is uncharacteristically rich, with the usual great depth and length – impressive right after bottling. A great result!

Tasting Note

This is a wine that displays deep rub red with violet tinges. The nose opens with spices, red berries and delicate oak aromas. The palate is typical of a powerful wine with strong tannic structure. Aromas of blackcurrant buds and vanilla follow, with a spicy licorice finish. In conclusion, the wine is racy and seductive, perfect for putting down.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Syrah

Appellation

Hermitage

Alcohol

14.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$75

Reviews

"Rich, full-bodied, and powerful"

Jeb Dunnuck - October 12, 2020 "Aged 48 months in barrel, it’s ruby/purple-colored and has a killer nose of blackcurrants, black raspberries, smoked meats, spice box, vanillin, and espresso. Rich, full-bodied, and powerful, with background oak, loads of fruit, and ripe, sweet tannins, it shows the style of this vintage beautifully."

"A whirl of complexity"

Wine Advocate - May 14, 2021 "Guigal's 2017 Hermitage boasts singed leather, exotic spice and roasted meat notes, plus plenty of cedar, mocha, cherry and cassis. It's a whirl of complexity bound together on the medium to full-bodied palate by velvety, chewy tannins that give way on the finish to savory spices and a wash of ripe fruit. It should drink well for 10-15 years."

"Combination of steadfast tannic power and grace"

Wine & Spirits Magazine - August 19, 2021 "Yes, there’s the sumptuous oak that’s a hallmark of Guigal reds, as well as a hedonistic chocolatey density of flavor. There’s red fruit and warm spice, licorice and earth, and a meaty flavor akin to the crispy, salty bits on the bottom of a roasting pan. But the standout element in this wine is its combination of steadfast tannic power and grace. It brings to mind Richard Serra’s iron sculptures, monolithic, voluptuous and built to last for ages."

"Strong Tenacity"

Vinous - December 22, 2022 "Deep, vivid ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, floral and exotic spices, with botanical herb, game and olive notes in the background. Concentrated but energetic as well, offering sharply defined blackberry, bitter cherry, candied violet, vanilla and exotic spice flavors with a touch of spicy cracked pepper. Clings with strong tenacity on the penetrating finish, which is framed by well-absorbed tannins. 50% new oak." J.R 12/22

Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

Côtes du Rhône Rouge

Given that this particular wine can be the introduction to the entire Rhône Valley for a drinker, as well as the position they occupy in the Rhône, it is not enough for the Guigals to make a good Côtes du Rhône. They are relentlessly driven to produce a distinctive and outstanding wine that drives interest in exploring the entirety of the Rhône.

Côtes du Rhône Blanc

Guigal’s Côtes du Rhône Blanc both sets and steps outside the standard for the appellation and showcases one of the great secrets of the Guigal family: their specialization in the great white Rhône varieties. While only 8% of the Rhône's production is white, a full 25% of Guigal’s production is white and they are today the single largest producer of whites in the Rhône Valley.

Côtes du Rhône Rosé

The Guigal family has made serious dry rosé wines since the 1940s, and their Côtes du Rhône Rosé, like all their Côtes du Rhône wines, is humble in name only. The wine bursts with irresistible fresh red fruits and yet is also serious and satisfying. While this Rosé is always a lovely aperitif, its intensity and richness make it perfect for the table, and it pairs well with all manner of cuisines. And starting with the 2020 vintage, the wine has a stunning new proprietary bottle: a subtle enhancement for an already elegant wine!

Saint Joseph Vignes de l’Hospice

Saint-Joseph

Guigal’s Vignes de l’Hospice is one of the finest sites in the Northern Rhone Valley. This steeply terraced vineyard used to be divided into three, but Guigal now owns majority of this parcel in order to restore perception of Saint-Joseph as an appellation of utmost quality. In fact, Guigal is often asked when they will produce a fourth “LaLa,” and their response is that their fourth single vineyard phenomenon of the Northern Rhone is already being produced: the Vignes de l’Hospice.

Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Rouge

Saint-Joseph

A result of its quality, Guigal’s Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Rouge comes from the “Saint-Joseph” vineyard that gives the appellation its name. This site convinced the Guigals to work in Saint-Joseph and help to restore the historic perception of Saint-Joseph as an appellation of utmost quality. The 100% Syrah wine has complex and deep black fruit, floral, spice and mineral characteristics. Despite its concentration and powerful attack, the wine retains the trademark elegance that Saint-Joseph offers.

Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Blanc

Saint-Joseph

A result of its quality, Guigal’s Saint-Joseph Blanc Lieu Dit comes from the “Saint-Joseph” vineyard that gives the appellation its name. This site convinced the Guigals to work in Saint-Joseph and help to restore the historic perception of Saint-Joseph as an appellation of utmost quality. Saint-Joseph Blanc is a serious wine, with weight and complexity, and is deeply reflective of its vineyard sites. A seamless balance of freshness and fruitiness, pleasure and interest, and flavors and structure. Guigal’s specialty in whites is especially evident in this wine, as it is almost a deceptively serious wine.

Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc

Hermitage

Ermitage Ex-Voto represents the fulfillment of a longtime dream of Marcel Guigal’s to own vineyard land on the hill of Hermitage. Through the purchase of the de Vallouit and J. L. Grippat domaines in 2000, Guigal acquired four exceptional vineyard parcels on this legendary site. The 2001 vintage was the first release of this estate-bottled Hermitage red and white. The quality of the intense old-vine fruit is quite special, but given the Guigal’s already strong work in Hermitage, they decided to only release an Ex-Voto red or white when the wine is utterly exceptional and clearly superior to their appellation bottlings.

Ermitage Ex Voto Rouge

Hermitage

Ermitage Ex-Voto represents the fulfillment of a longtime dream of Marcel Guigal’s to own vineyard land on the hill of Hermitage. Through the purchase of the de Vallouit and J. L. Grippat domaines in 2000, Guigal acquired four exceptional vineyard parcels on this legendary site. The 2001 vintage was the first release of this estate-bottled Hermitage red and white. The quality of the intense old-vine fruit is quite special, but given the Guigal’s already strong work in Hermitage, they decided to only release an Ex-Voto red or white when the wine is utterly exceptional and clearly superior to their appellation bottlings.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Guigal produces an intensely concentrated, inviting and complex Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is almost unique to the region today. Their passion for Châteauneuf, the leading appellation of the Southern Rhône, runs as deeply as that for their home sites in the Northern Rhône. The combination of working with top fruit that has perfect ripeness, along with their extraordinary patience in the cellar, results in rich and full, yet savory, spicy, seamless and balanced wines. Wines to enjoy immediately but capable of aging, and, above all, wines that leave you wanting more.

Condrieu La Doriane

Condrieu

La Doriane is a luxury cuvée of Condrieu that the Guigals have produced since the 1994 vintage. A great success since the first vintage, the wine always seems richly oaked and very fruity when young, transforming in 3-4 years into a seamlessly complex, aromatic and vibrant wine. La Doriane contradicts the accepted wisdom that Condrieu does not age well.