Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2010 (95% marsanne, 5% roussanne)
Nice blossom sweet white berry nose with some delicate spice. Very crisp and pure on the palate, expressing some minerality with focused bright and fresh fruit.
Condrieu 2010 (100% viognier)
Honeyed apricot blossom, oily and yet bright and floral. Very tight structure with volume and viscosity, some sweet fruit texture and richness and subtle oak complexity.
Hermitage Blanc 2007 (95% marsanne, 5% roussanne)
Much more expression of oak and malolactic characters on the nose but well integrated. Quite fat and broad, lacking a little focus, but relatively clean and pure with subtle oak notes.
Ex Voto Hermitage Blanc 2009 (100% new oak)
Newer oak hiding the richness of the malo, very oily honeyed peach notes with much more complexity aromatically. Ideal concentration of fruit for the winemaking style, good length and intensity, well balanced richness and breadth, ageing potential.
Saint Joseph 2009 (100% syrah)
Black pepper green spice, earthy meaty complexity on the nose. Pure clean and mineralic, some very late chocolate notes possibly from the oak, fruit not very expressive.
Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde 2007
Meaty spice but no pepper, finesse intensity and vibrancy on the nose. Silky tannins, focus and drive, mature stalk notes adding some brown spice, very deep and serious.
Hermitage 2005 (100% syrah)
Very prominent black liquorice and violet aromas, blackberry and raspberry cordial fruit. Bold and juicy tannins and fruit on the palate, generous depth and some mature toasty creamy texture.
Chateau d’Ampuis Cote Rotie 2007 (eight parcels)
Showing very smoky stalk notes, tight small dark berries, white pepper elegance. Soft velverty yet bright tannins, very young at the moment but still very approachable.
La Turque Cote Rotie 2008 (Single vineyard, 98% syrah, 2% viognier)
Very floral, unbelievably concentrated, violets spice and white pepper. Generous fruit, focused tannins, opulence and concentrated rich fruit, lively yet brooding but still very drinkable now.
Ex Voto Hermitage 2006 (100% syrah)
Noticable but subtle vegemite aromas, meaty spice elements. Generous and soft, juicy texture with good fruit, but very unfocused and broad, looking like its peaking, not as strong as the cote rotie wines.
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| Tasting at Guigal |
The Intrepid Wino 