Guigal Cote-Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis 2008
Toasting to Sir Edmund Hilary with Guigal 2008 Château d'Ampuis -a hell of a wine tasting of all the foods I'll bet he was dreaming of up the steep slopes of Mount Everest: smoked bacon rolled in cracked pepper or is it seasoned ribs? Either way, like Hilary, this carries onward and upward with sandalwood and cedar, ferrous meaty depth and a heady floral fragrance and far higher than my descriptive powers can do justice. To Sir Edmund Hillary!
Wine review/toast shared by Larry Colbeck, Nicholas Livingston, Wil Bailey, and John Hoffmann on May 29th 2013 - 60 years to the day the New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing bested the tallest peak on the planet. TO HILLARY & TENZING!
Expert Review
92 Wine Spectator
This displays nice stuffing for the vintage, with smoky incense leading to the bay leaf, cedar, roasted vanilla bean, black tea and mulled currant fruit core. Lightly taut, showing a slightly grainy edge on the finish, but excellent length and range as well. –JM
90 Wine Advocate (Robert Parker)
The 2008 Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis demonstrates the brilliance of Guigal’s elevage. It has gone from a green, herbaceous, vegetal wine to one that is no longer herbaceous whatsoever. Made in a lighter style, but shockingly good, it proves the advantages of this long, unusual elevage. Despite being aged in 100% oak for 38 months, the wood component is barely noticeable. The wine reveals hints of roasted espresso beans intermixed with raspberries, black currants, plums and sassafras (reminiscent of Burgundy) followed by an elegant, medium-bodied, seductive personality with no vegetal characteristics. This 2008 should be drunk in its first 7-8 years.
Food Pairings
Winged beasties with dark meat like duck, goose, squab, and griffins. Hooved game. Roasted meats.