Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis 2018 - 1.5 L

Guigal’s three flagship single-vineyard Côte-Rôties — La Mouline, La Landonne, La Turque — are the stuff of Northern Rhône legend: tiny production, fierce demand, prices to match. Château d’Ampuis is where the same philosophy, the same seven parcels from Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, and the same 38-month élevage in new oak meet something approaching accessibility.

Jeb Dunnuck tasted the 2018 and said it was “going to flirt with perfection” and “certainly in the same league as the famed La Las.” He awarded it 97-99 points. Wine Enthusiast gave it 97. James Suckling gave it 96. Wine Advocate gave it 95+.

That's the most unanimous critical consensus on a Côte Rôtie you will find anywhere at this price point.

The 2018 is a tannic, muscular vintage from the Northern Rhône: hot growing season, elevated slopes performing brilliantly, wines of genuine concentration and structure made for the long haul. Cassis, smoked game, spring flowers, espresso-laced oak, ripe polished tannins and a finish of considerable length. Eight years of bottle development have softened the edges, deepened the fruit and brought the wine’s complexity further forward.

In magnum — 1.5 liters — the aging curve slows, and the evolution becomes more graceful and complete than it can be in a standard bottle.

This is one of the finest back-vintage magnums we have offered this year. Collectors will know what to do.