2020 E Guigal Cote-Rotie Chateau dÁmpuis, Northern Rhone

Pure blackberries, cassis, violets, raspberries, spring flowers, and smoked meats all emerge from the 2023 Côte Rôtie Château D'Ampuis. Coming from a mix of seven lieux-dits (La Garde, Le Clos, Grande-Plantée, Pommière, Pavillon, Le Moulin, and La Viria) and based on 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier aged in new French oak for 38 months, it's medium to full-bodied, pure, and seamless, with incredible elegance and silky tannins.

96-98 points Jeb Dunnuck

A beautifully crafted Cote-Rotie for this ripe vintage that is already a delight to drink. Excellent balance of smokiness, meaty character and fine tannins, the generous oak already very well integrated. Very long finish with plenty of drive and smoky character. Drink or hold.

94 points James Suckling

Long before single vineyard bottlings became fashionable in Côte Rôtie, Château d'Ampuis was conceived as a tribute to the appellation itself. Drawn from some of Guigal's finest parcels across both Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, the wine captures the elegance of one hillside and the power of the other, creating one of the Northern Rhône's great modern classics. Named after the historic château that overlooks the vineyards, it has become a benchmark for collectors seeking the complete expression of Côte Rôtie.

The Guigal family has shaped the reputation of the Rhône Valley for generations, and few names carry greater weight in the region. Produced only in exceptional years, Château d'Ampuis is sourced from old vines rooted in the steep granite terraces above the Rhône River. The outstanding 2020 vintage delivered fruit of remarkable concentration and freshness, allowing the wine's structure and complexity to emerge with impressive clarity and precision.

Deep ruby with purple highlights, the bouquet is intensely aromatic, revealing blackberry, black cherry and damson layered with violets, cracked pepper and smoked herbs. As the wine evolves, notes of olive tapenade, bacon fat, cedar and exotic spice emerge, adding remarkable depth and unmistakable Côte Rôtie character. The palate is powerful yet beautifully refined, combining concentrated dark fruits with finely woven tannins and vibrant acidity. There is tremendous energy beneath the wine's richness, while the finish unfolds with waves of savoury spice, floral perfume and mineral detail that linger long after the final sip.

This is a magnificent companion for venison loin, roast lamb with rosemary, braised beef cheeks, duck with black olives or mushroom pithivier. While already impressive with careful decanting, Château d'Ampuis possesses the pedigree and balance to reward patient cellaring over several decades.