E. Guigal
Saint-Joseph 2016
Saint-Joseph
The Guigal family lives and works just 45 minutes north of Saint-Joseph, but it was circumstance in 1999 that brought them to several extraordinary sites in Saint-Joseph they eventually purchased. They are not only converts, but among the most vocal advocates about the extraordinary depth and complexity that wines from the great sites of Saint-Joseph can display. The wines can share some of the same smoldering black fruit and spice character as their neighbors across the river in Hermitage, but they are less brooding, more composed when young, and in general wines of finesse rather than power.
Vineyard
The 30 mile long district of Saint Joseph, along the Western bank of the Rhône, extends from the southern part of Condrieu, through and around the town of Tournon, to the northern boundary of Cornas. It comprises nearly 2,500 acres, planted about 90% to Syrah and 10% to Marsanne and Roussanne. Guigal only works in the southern area of Saint Joseph, on intensely steep hillside sites. This area around Tournon and south to Mauves is the true heart and origin of the appellation.
Guigal’s vineyards are among the best in the appellation, and situated on hillsides with complex soils of decomposed granite with limestone and sandy granite topoils that produce spicy and structured wines of 100% Syrah. This Saint Joseph Rouge is comprised of fruit from the exceptional vineyards of Domaine J. L. Grippat (purchased in 2000, the “Rolls Royce of Saint-Joseph”) and de Vallouit (purchased in 2001). Vines average in age from 20 to 50 years.
How Guigal came to own these vineyards needs its own chapter, but we will try to summarize. In short, the Guigals for years wanted to purchase land in Hermitage. Jean-Louis Grippat, considered the best producer in Saint Joseph at the time, had no heirs interested in taking over his family business, and told the Guigals he was going to sell his vineyards, including land he owned in Hermitage. The catch was that the sale was all or nothing; he would not parcel out his vineyard holdings.
Marcel and Philippe drove the 45 minutes down to Saint-Joseph from Côte-Rôtie, and somberly discussed in the car how they would have to explain to Jean-Louis that they were not interested. It was not something they could do over the phone, hence the drive. When they arrived, rather than sitting down for a discussion, Jean-Louis took them right to his Saint-Joseph vineyards. Though they live only 45 minutes north, the Guigals had never seen the region through the eyes of one of its top producers, and never walked vineyards of this quality. They fell in love, and made the purchase. Another portion of the vineyard was acquired when they purchased the spectacular holdings in Hermitage and Saint-Joseph of the De Vallouit family (this time they didn’t need convincing about Saint-Joseph).
Winemaking
The 100% Syrah is hand harvested and sorted, then fermented at high temperatures in stainless steel vats. Aging was for 24 months in second use barrels, all coopered by Guigal at Château d’Ampuis.
Vintage
Following the outstanding 2015 vintage, 2016 did not disappoint in the Northern Rhone. It is a brilliant expression of the terroir, and wonderfully elegant even in their youth with great intensity and ripe fruit flavors. A late spring was followed by hot weather from July through September, which promoted ripening. An Indian Summer through October ensured full maturation of fruit.
Tasting Note
Dark red with violet tints. The powerful nose is dominated by red berries and delicate oak aromas. The approach is direct on the palate and dominated by fruit, with immediately apparent round and supple tannins.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Syrah
Appellation
Saint-Joseph
Alcohol
13%
Suggested Retail Price
$33.00
Reviews
"Juicy and expansive"
Vinous - September 19, 2019 “Opaque ruby. Spice-accented black/blue fruits, violet, olive and smoky minerals on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering lively boysenberry, bitter cherry and cracked pepper flavors that become sweeter on the back half.”
"Wildly herbal and spicy"
James Suckling - October 18, 2019 "A wildly herbal and spicy, exotic style with aromas and flavors of red plums and cherries, as well as aged meat. Grainy, elegant tannins. Drink or hold."
"Lively in feel"
Wine Spectator - December 9, 2019 "Lively in feel, with red currant, pomegranate and damson plum fruit flavors keeping this decidedly in the red spectrum, while floral and iron nuances fill in on the racy finish."
"Well worth the money"
Decanter - March 24, 2020 "This 100% Syrah is made from the fruit of a selection of old vines aged between 20 and 50 years old. The nose immediately packs a powerful punch, full of bright red fruit and subtly spicy oak aromas. The palate is loaded with delicious, crunchy cherry notes, which are supported by supple, rounded tannins and underpinned by zippy acidity. It’s a wine that is well worth the money."
Reviews
More on E. Guigal Saint-Joseph 2016
Old Reliable: Rhône Mainstay E. Guigal’s 2017 Vintage
April 25, 2019 - Summarizing James Molesworth's latest Wine Spectator feature on E. Guigal's 2017 vintage would not do it justice. We highly encourage you to read through the detailed article, which features several…
Trade Materials
E. Guigal Saint-Joseph 2016 Tech Sheet
"This 100% Syrah is made from the fruit of a selection of old vines aged between 20 and 50 years old. The nose immediately packs a powerful punch, full of…
Other Wines by this Producer
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.
Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
Côte-Rôtie
One of the three “LaLa” wines that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Landonne is a remarkable expression of terroir. And for good reason, La Landonne is situated on one of the steepest vineyards of the Côte Brune, a 45 degree slope that remarkably requires harvesters to start picking from the bottom of the vineyard and work their way up, placing grape bunches in bins that are set on sleds and dragged up the hill. Along with its position at the northern end of the Côte Brune and the fact it is the last vineyard to ripen, La Landonne is the mirror of the feminine and voluptuous La Mouline: it is a wine of driving power, defined by its dark fruit and structure. The first vintage Guigal produced was in 1978, after being planted in 1975 at the time of Philippe Guigal’s birth.
Côte-Rôtie La Turque
Côte-Rôtie
Of the three famous single-vineyard “LaLas” that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Turque is the newest. This vineyard produced outstanding wines in the first half of the 20th century, but then was not used for wine production for nearly 50 years. The Guigals acquired the vineyard and re-planted it in 1980 and 1981, based on Etienne Guigal’s memory of the quality of the wines it once produced. The first vintage appeared in 1985. In both position and style, it sits between La Mouline and La Landonne: the complex soils lend an exotic character to La Turque, and its concentration and elegance exhibit the virility of the Côte Brune with the subtlety and femininity of the Côte Blonde.
Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
Côte-Rôtie
First planted by the Romans 2,500 years ago, La Mouline is the oldest and most famous vineyard of Cote-Rotie, and Guigal’s single vineyard bottling of La Mouline in the 1960s set off a quality revolution throughout the Rhone Valley. The stunning amphitheater is the most complex plot in Cote-Rotie due to its extremely steep slopes with expositions in every direction. Of the three famous “LaLas” that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Mouline was the first and is the only one on the Cote Blonde, and its signature is an unbelievable exoticism, an irresistibly and unique lifted floral, black fruit, earthy, spicy perfume, its coiled power always in balance, seemingly endless.
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.
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.
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.
Hermitage Blanc
Hermitage
Whites make up a small percentage of production in the Rhône, under 2%, but white wines are a little bit of a secret specialty at Guigal and today comprise 25% of their production. And for good reason, as the whites of the Northern Rhône are true discovery wines, immensely appealing and complex. They specifically display an expressiveness and brightness while also capturing the warmth of the area. Even more of a discovery is Hermitage Blanc, one of the least-known yet most intriguing wines of the Rhône Valley and in the small 309 acre Hermitage AOC.
Hermitage
Hermitage
Hermitage is one of France’s most spectacular and famous appellations, 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. The Hermitage Rouge is the example of a racy wine, that manages to remain seductive.
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.