Lot presentation

Ermitage Ex Voto Guigal 2003

The wine

Produced only in great years, Ermitage Ex-Voto testifies to a deep commitment to producing this terroir's truly prestigious wines. Indeed, in Latin "ex voto" literally means "as a consequence of the vow", or "according to the wish made". Located on a very steep vineyard of old vines (40 to 90 years old), the Les Bessards, Greffieux, Murets and Hermite parcels form the terroir behind this exceptional wine, which undergoes élevage in new pièce barrels for 40 months. Black berries, leather, liquorice, roasted aromas and oriental spices make up a nose of incredible intensity. There is plenty of body in the mouth. This solid, concentrated wine has a very great potential for keeping.

About the Producer Guigal

Located in Ampuis, the cradle of the Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Guigal was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Guigal has contributed enormously to putting this appellation on the map, an appellation that was nearly lost to the phylloxera crisis at the close of the 19th century, the economic crisis of 1929 and the the two World Wars. In 1961, the young Marcel Guigal took over the reins. Driven by a desire to produce high quality wines, this young vigneron undeniably changed the perception of Côte-Rôtie wines. Nowadays, the brilliant enologist Philippe Guigal – son of Marcel – runs the domain. The house produces three cuvées “prestige” - La Landonne, La Mouline et La Turque – a sublime trilogy which wine connoisseurs go mad for. The vineyard now also runs over to the Rhone valley's prestigious appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Gigondas, Crozes-Hermitage. They are all vinified and matured in the cellars of Ampuis. Marel Guigal and his son Philippe continue to devote considerable care to all of the winemaking process: low-intervention viticulture, work done entirely by hand, given the parcel's situation on a 45 degree slope, vinification in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats, élevage in new oak barrels for 42 months, to allow the wine to fully develop its aromas etc. The headquarters of the domain is the Château d'Ampuis, a jewel of the Renaissance which is listed as a Historic Monument. The Guigal signature is one of the most emblematic of the Rhone valley, it shines for its infallible constancy and rigorous grape production.

Detailed characteristics