Cotes-du-Rhone

Guigal's three great Cote Rotie's from the Northern Rhone

In the past 30 years Marcel Guigal has gone from strength to strength with his Cote-Rotie crus: La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque. Syrah is in its element here, on these slopes of the sandy gneiss south of Lyon. These are the flagship wines of Guigal, aged in 100% new oak for 42 months before release and they will last for 30 years and keep on improving. There is nothing to compare with them in Syrah anywhere in the world. All three are available (2004 Vintage) at Hemingway Fine Wines at $495 a bottle.

Rhone Valley reds offer the best value from France

Guigal Cotes-du-Rhone 2004

This inexpensive blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mouvedre is a big step up on previous vintage

Rhone wines from the 2003 vintage suffered from abnormally hot conditions that produced wines more fruit driven and 'New World' in style with less complexity and structure. The Guigal standard Cotes-du-Rhone, this famous company's entry red that can be found all around the world, is back to it's best in the 2004 vintage. It is a beautifully balanced wine that offers drinkers complexity and structure for not much cost. Rhone generally outperforms both Bordeaux and Burgundy in the value for money stakes and this wine offers more weight to that argument.

Cotes-du-Rhones from 2005 are readily available in NZ and they are also of excellent quality, the Paul Jaboulet Parallel 45 2005 and Chapoutier's Belleruche 2005 are both good examples and well worth trying for those looking for everyday wines for around $20. These two could be the best vintages produced by their respective labels in some years. The Guigal 2004 was one of the many stars in our 10 wine Guigal tasting in November which highlighted the lengths to which Guigal go to produce quality wine in a difficult vintage - their St Joseph 2003 and Gigondas 2003 were two good examples. If the step up from the 2003 to 2004 vintage for these wines is as pronouced as the Cotes-du-Rhone then look out for them.

The Rhone is relatively consistent for vintage quality but 2002 which was wet at harvest and 2003 were not their best years. Things are right back on track with these latest offerings - the blend has changed from 2003 to 2004 with the latter having only 8% Grenache compared with 35% in 2003. Buy your case of Guigal Cotes-du-Rhone 2004 for just $259

Code	Wine	Variety/Style	Price NZ$

2050	Andre Brunel Cuvee Sommelongue CDR 2006	S.Rhone Red	$ 27.50
2377	Ch. Beauchene Chateauneuf Vignobles 2004	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 51.90
2884	Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes Du Rhone 2005	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 20.90
1833	Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Meyonnes 2005	Syrah	$ 36.90
2885	Chapoutier La Ciboise Cotes de Tricastin 2007	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 17.50
2387	Chateau Beauchene CDR Grand Reserve 2006	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 27.50
2388	Chateau Beauchene CDR Villages 2006	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 26.50
2376	Chateau Beauchene les Sens Syrah 2004	Syrah	$ 25.50
2375	Chateau Beauchene Premier Terroir CDR 2005	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 29.90
2612	Chateau de Beaucastel CDP Blanc 2003	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 135.00
4326	Chateau Mont-Redon Chateauneuf-du-Papes 2004	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 57.90
2613	Coudoulet De Beaucastel Blanc 2004	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 57.50
4222	Delas Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone 2005	Syrah	$ 22.50
428	Guigal Chateau d'Ampuis cote Rotie 1998	Syrah	$ 155.00
4115	Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde 2001	Syrah	$ 129.00
2486	Guigal Cotes du Rhone 2004	Syrah/Gren/M	$ 25.50
1885	Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2004	Syrah	$ 46.50
4112	Guigal Hermitage Rouge 2001	Syrah	$ 145.00
4071	Guigal Hermitage Rouge 2002	Syrah	$ 125.00
4230	Guigal Hermitage Rouge 2003	Syrah	$ 155.00
4073	Guigal St Joseph Lieu-dit 2005	Syrah	$ 99.00
4072	Guigal St Joseph Rouge 2003	Syrah	$ 54.90
1928	Jaboulet Cotes-du-Rhone Parallele 45 06	S.Rhone Red	$ 22.50
4451	Jaboulet La Chapelle Herm 2004	Syrah	$ 225.00
420	Perrin Coudoulet Beacastel Blanc 2004	S.Rhone Red	$ 57.50
2328	Remy Ferbras Cote du Rhone 2006	S.Rhone Red	$ 16.90

Last Updated 21/03/2009