Guigal’s Côte-Rôties
E. Guigal make five Côte-Rôtie wines. Here’s the breakdown.
Syrah/shiraz from around the world – a blind tasting
Every few months I organise a themed tasting seminar for a group of local business people. We taste blind and discuss the wines.
South African shiraz
Shiraz plantings have increased from 2% of the vineyard area just over a decade ago, to 10% today. It is now the fourth most planted variety in South Africa.
Syrah in France
Syrah is France’s third most planted black grape variety (after merlot and grenache). And there’s more in the Languedoc and Roussillon than there is in the Rhône valley, though it’s the latter region that claims the variety as its own, and more specifically the northern Rhône, where syrah reaches one its apogees.
Co-fermentation
Bits of winemaking stuff explained.
Bright, young South African wine industry
South Africa’s 350-year-old wine industry has been revolutionised in the last 15 years, as planting restrictions have been removed, and new areas planted up with early successes.
E. Guigal
Guigal is one of the foremost producers in the Rhône valley, making everything from estate wines, wines from bought-in fruit and blending wines from bought-in wines. Third generation Philippe, the company’s general manager, explained it all.
