2022 E Guigal Cote-Rotie Chateau dÁmpuis, Northern Rhone

The 2022 Côte Rôtie Château D'Ampuis brings another level of classic character, showing black raspberries, spring flowers, game, and olive tapenade. A blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from a mix of lieux-dits and aging in new oak for 38 months, it's medium to full-bodied and pure, with beautiful balance and a seamless texture.

95-97 points Jeb Dunnuck

Pronounced graphite dust, black cherry, whisper-thin wood smoke and fleshy tones introduces the 2022 CôteRôtie Château d'Ampuis. Hints of coffee and black plum add more layers. Full-bodied, concentrated and refined, the 2022 is showing well at this early tasting moment, coasting toward ferrous persistence.

94 points Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous January 2026

Château d’Ampuis sits close to the top of the E. Guigal hierarchy, just beneath the celebrated single vineyard La La wines. Named after the historic château on the banks of the Rhône that became the Guigal family headquarters in 1995, it is assembled from seven exceptional Côte Rôtie lieux dits rather than a single vineyard. That gives it a fascinating breadth of character and makes it one of the finest introductions to just how serious Côte Rôtie can be.

Syrah dominates, with a small amount of Viognier traditionally co fermented, bringing fragrance and another dimension to the texture. The fruit comes from Guigal holdings across the precipitous granite terraces surrounding Ampuis, where exposure, poor soils and the northern Rhône climate create Syrah of extraordinary intensity. The 2022 vintage was warm and dry, giving impressive concentration, yet Côte Rôtie’s best sites retained the perfume and freshness needed to balance that richness. Extended maturation in oak is very much part of the Guigal signature, and patience will reward it.

Deep purple crimson, the bouquet is already striking, with blackberry, black cherry and blueberry joined by violet and cracked black pepper. Smoked bacon, black olive and graphite follow, with liquorice, espresso and woodsmoke adding darker notes underneath. The palate is powerful and concentrated, its core of black fruit surrounded by polished, substantial tannins. Pepper, olive and smoky mineral characters gradually take control before a tremendously persistent finish of blackberry, violet and savoury spice.

Rare duck breast with blackberry and juniper would be superb, alongside venison with beetroot, lamb with black olives and rosemary, Korean beef ribs or grilled king oyster mushrooms with miso. Our pick is the duck. Its richness can handle the structure, while tart blackberry plays straight into Côte Rôtie’s dark, perfumed fruit.