E. Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde 2021
(Northern Rhone Valley, France) - [JS 94] [WE 94] [WA 93] [WS 92] [JD 90-92]

The Property:
The E. Guigal Estate was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal, in Ampuis. His son, Marcel, took over in 1961. Today, the 3rd generation, Marcel’s son Philippe, continues the legacy and values of this iconic family house in the Rhône Valley.

With vineyards in Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage, the E. Guigal estate oversees a mosaic of vineyards located in numerous appellations that form a range of wines of impeccable quality.

Over the vintages, the E. Guigal house has experienced strong development, notably becoming the owner in 1995 of the famous Château d’Ampuis, as well as several wine estates (Jean-Louis Grippat, Domaine de Vallouit, Domaine de Bonserine and Château de Nalys, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape).

The Vineyard:
Brune and Blonde is a wine from the Rhône Valley produced from plots planted on steep terraces. Approximately 35 years old, the vines are planted on schist and siliceous-limestone soils within the Côte-Blonde and rich in iron oxides on the Côte-Brune.

Vinification and Aging:
Rigorous sorting before vinification in stainless steel tanks. Regular punch-downs, control of fermentation temperatures then maceration for nearly 3 weeks. This Côte-Rôtie wine is aged in oak barrels (50% new wood) for 38 months.

Blend: Syrah, Viognier

Tasting Notes:

• Color: The color displays an intense ruby hue, with deep and luminous reflections.
• Nose: Expressive and refined, the nose reveals a mix of sweet spices, small red fruits and fine woody nuances.
• Palate: On the palate, the attack is supple and balanced, carried by silky tannins. The flavors of raspberry and blackberry combine with delicate vanilla notes for a smooth finish.
• Service: For optimal tasting, serve between 16°C and 18°C.
• Food and Wine Pairings: 
  This wine pairs perfectly with red meats, game and a fine selection of mature cheeses.

Winemaker Notes:
Dark ruby red in color. The nose presents spices, red berries and delic:ate oak aromas. The wine opens with round, soft tannin that are followed by raspberry, blackberry and vanilla. Overall, the wine is balanced between scarcely perceptible acidity and tannins which add ageing potential and softened by long ageing in oak.

Ratings & Reviews:

94 Points - James Suckling:
"This is refined, textural and chiseled. It has notes of sweet berries, charred bark, sandalwood and chocolate. It's medium- to full-bodied with finely grained tannins. Velvety texture, with a layered and bright core of red berries at the center. It's all in balance with a refined character. Controlled power and a precise finish. Drink or hold." (Apr 2024)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This wine enchants with its heady bouquet of crushed rose and plummy barbecue, enriched by a hint of dried herbs—an irresistible invitation to indulge. The palate unfolds with a meaty complexity, showcasing violets and fine herbs, all harmonized by silky tannins and vibrant acidity. It should pair beautifully with savory dishes especially those with hen of the woods mushrooms." - Anna-Christina Cabrales (Jul 2025) 

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2021 Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde is expressive—indeed, almost exuberant for the vintage—bursting with a sweet bouquet of pepper, spices, dark berries and licorice, mingled with gently vanillin oak. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and layered, it’s suave and deep at the core, concluding with a long, seamless finish. This is a classic offering despite the challenges of the year." - Yohan Castaing (Nov 2025)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A racy, somewhat lean style, offering white pepper–dusted red currant wrapped in a layer of toasted apple wood. Fresh and winey, with smoke, salt and graphite shavings echoing on the silky, tangy finish, plus a gentle tannic tug. Solid for the challenging vintage. It will be interesting to see how this ages. Syrah and Viognier. Drink now through 2032." - Kristen Bieler Dec 2024)

90-92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Leading off the Côte Rôties, the 2021 Côte Rôtie Brune Et Blonde is medium-bodied and balanced, with the vintage's fresher, elegant style as well as classic notes of ripe darker fruits, smoked meats, pepper, and hints of flowers. It's a classic, layered, elegant, up-front Côte Rôtie that will be impossible to resist over the coming decade." (Mar 2024)