Category: Côte-Rotie

“Côte-Rôtie is the balance between finesse and power, a symphony of flavours that awakens the senses.”
Gérard Gauby

The French vineyards of Côte-Rôtie are nestled on the steep, narrow slopes of the hillsides on the right bank of the Rhône. The soils are mainly composed of schist and mica schist, which give the wines their distinctive character.
Syrah is the main variety used in Côte-Rôtie wines, bringing deep aromas of black fruit, spice and violet. A small proportion of Viognier, a white variety, can be blended with the Syrah to add complexity and finesse to the wines.

The Côte-Rôtie appellation has no official classification system. However, the vineyards are often divided into two distinct zones: the Côte Brune to the north, where the soils are richer in iron oxide, and the Côte Blonde to the south, characterised by sandier soils.

Guigal produces a specific wine called “Brune et Blonde de Guigal” in reference to the two distinct zones of the Côte-Rôtie appellation, the Côte Brune and the Côte Blonde.

“Brune et Blonde de Guigal” is a cuvée that represents the blending of grapes from these two terroirs. It’s a wine that seeks to capture the qualities of Côte-Rôtie wines that are at once powerful and elegant.

I’d warned you in previous posts: I’m a fan of this estate, so I’m on the lookout for every good opportunity to discover all the E. Guigal wines.

Let’s talk a little about this 2019: a deep, thick robe, of a streaming red; on the nose it’s lightly spiced with a leather/tobacco blend, and you can feel it holding back, not wanting to reveal everything to us.

Softness and depth, but it doesn’t give everything away; it’s decidedly a little young, though the aromas of leather and spice are interesting. The tannins aren’t strong — they’re in balance and don’t make this wine too powerful.

A length of persistent red fruit; a very light acidity makes way for the fruit, and towards the end I think I detect a little banana.

The subtlety and complexity of this wine make it very good; it won’t leave anyone indifferent. That said, its price comfortably exceeds €50, which makes it an exceptional wine. But it’s a safe bet, and none of your friends will be left indifferent.

Here’s a Côte-Rôtie that left me anything but indifferent! Philippe Pacalet.

A little history:

In the 19th century, phylloxera devastated the vineyards of France, including that of Côte-Rôtie. The vines were destroyed and had to be replanted, which took several decades. The region’s winegrowers persevered, however, and managed to bring this vineyard back to life.

In the 20th century, winemakers such as Marius Gentaz and Marcel Guigal — I’ll tell you about him in a future post — helped build the reputation of Côte-Rôtie by producing exceptional wines. Today, the Côte-Rôtie vineyard is considered one of the most prestigious in France and in the world, and the wines produced there are highly prized by connoisseurs.

Back to this Côte-Rôtie by Philippe Pacalet:

It’s a red wine produced in the Rhône Valley wine region, in France. It’s made from Syrah and Viognier grapes, the latter added in small quantity to bring a touch of floral aromas.

Its structure is more complex than it seems. A very welcome and very pleasant length on the palate. A fragrant, typical nose right from opening. The Syrah grapes that make it up aren’t my favourites, but here, I admit it, I’m won over.

It’s elegant, complex and marked by spice — in short, everything I love in a wine. Young or old, you’ll enjoy it at any age!

At a tasting among friends, I was astonished to see it win everyone over. Ladies and gentlemen alike all enjoyed it.

If Côte-Rôtie isn’t to your taste, you’ll also find exceptional Pommard or Nuits-Saint-Georges wines at this house. Philippe Pacalet is a renowned winemaker known for his respectful approach to nature and his commitment to biodynamics. The grapes used for the Côte-Rôtie are grown organically and biodynamically, which means they’re grown without the use of chemicals and using environmentally friendly farming methods.

That said, I’ll grant you its price matches the brew: it will be hard to find below €80 — but it’s a “must-have”!