E. Guigal : Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph 2023

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for the Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph 2023 by E. Guigal

Tasting

Appearance
With its deep, dark red colour, this wine captivates with its visual intensity.

Nose
Of great purity and beautiful intensity, the bouquet releases complex aromas of black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry, plum) and red fruits, underlined by notes of spices, black pepper and violet. Delicate woody and mineral touches evoking graphite complete this nose.

Palate
The attack is powerful and full-bodied. The palate then reveals round, elegant tannins, perfectly integrated thanks to the ageing. The whole offers a superb balance between vibrant freshness and beautiful power.

Food and wine pairings

This red wine pairs wonderfully with red meats, particularly lamb-based dishes (rack, slow-cooked leg or roasted shoulder), game such as roasted venison, or a veal fillet mignon. It will also perfectly accompany mushroom-based dishes, roasted root vegetables or aged hard cheeses such as Laguiole.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal tasting, it is recommended to serve this Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph 2023 at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed in its youth but has cellaring potential allowing it to evolve in the cellar until around 2033.

The pure, mineral expression of a steep terroir in the Rhône Valley

The estate

Founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis, in the heart of the Rhône Valley, the E. Guigal estate is a true institution. Following the remarkable work of Marcel Guigal from 1961 onwards, it is now the third generation, embodied by Philippe Guigal (oenologist and general manager) and his wife Eve, who runs the estate. Housed in the historic Château d'Ampuis, the house has distinguished itself through strategic acquisitions and the creation of its own cooperage. Certified High Environmental Value (HVE level 3), the estate brilliantly combines ancestral know-how with modern precision.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph, a tiny registered plot of only three hectares. The vines, aged 20 to 30 years on average, are planted on very steep slopes. This exceptional terroir consists of a bedrock of layered gneiss crossed by veins of granite, offering ideal mineral conditions for growing vines. The harvest is carried out by hand in order to select the berries with the greatest care.

Vinification and ageing

The vinification of the Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph 2023 is subject to rigorous temperature control, kept below 33°C to preserve all the complexity and aromatic freshness. The ageing is then carried out very precisely: half of the wine rests in new French oak barrels, while the other half is aged in one-wine barrels. This method adds complexity without masking the identity of the fruit.

Grape variety

100% Syrah.