2015 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge Guigal

The 2015 Côtes du Rhône checks in as a final blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre. It offers a juicy, Syrah-driven bouquet of ripe blackberry fruits, smoked meats, pepper, and hints of underbrush as well as a rich, medium to full- bodied, polished style on the palate. It has ripe tannin, plenty of mid- palate depth, and as I wrote when I tasted it from barrel close to two years ago, it's a beautiful Côtes du Rhône that will deliver the goods.

As usual, the 2015 Cotes du Rhone features a majority of Syrah, largely sourced from the western side of the Rhône. Spicy, peppery, hickory aromas lead off, adding berries up front and then moving into darker fruit and more savory notes of black olive by the finish. This medium to full-bodied wine finishes long and silky, avoiding any of the vintage's hard tannins, while still boasting the concentration to drink well through at least 2023.

Brilliant ruby. Vibrant cherry and cassis aromas are complicated by licorice, violet and floral nuances. Sappy, gently sweet dark fruit flavors show very good energy, and a peppery nuance adds lift and spicy bite. Finishes smoky and long, with supple tannins sneaking in late to add shape. Drink 2020-2025.

2015 var en sublim syrah-årgang i det nordlige Rhône, og når man ved, at det er her, Côte Rôtie-kongerne Marcel og Philippe Guigal har deres spidskompetence, kan det ikke undre, at denne syrah-dominerede côtes du rhône sidder lige i skabet. Jo, vinen har også et skvæt mourvèdre og grenache i sig, men den krydrede brombærnæse fornægter sig ikke: Syrah styrer! Skulle man indvende noget, er det det lille alkoholriv, man får i næsen, når man stikker den i glasset. Men smagsmæssigt har vi at gøre med en varm, spicy og let sødmefuld vin båret frem af blød, mørk bærfrugt. Ualmindelig vellavet.

Velstruktureret, rig, men ganske stram - årgangen taler. Her er bang for the buck, saft og kraft, sødmefuld kraft, mandige tanniner. Bedre på dag to, hvor frugten træder mere i forgrunden, og tanninerne har dæmpet sig. Giv den ilt. Virkelig meget vin for de penge - den kan snildt holde i fem år i en ordentlig kælder.