2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Exceptional! This half was the highlight of our last order - it went down a treat!! We’ll be going back for the full size next order."
Mrs Esther Elshen (29-Nov-2020)
"Too much tannin for a roughness that was not to my liking. Okay with strong food but not for drinking by itself."
Mr Martin Kirby (28-Nov-2020)
"Fine, but not in my view outstanding.."
Mr Neil Butter (23-Oct-2020)
"5 stars for value. This could be on of the best value purchases I have made from TWS. I agree with the previous reviewers that this is stunning wine at this price point. I bought a bottle after watching the recommendation video 'a glass with Marcel' and it did not disappoint. I now have a case waiting in the cellar!! Highly recommended for everyday drinking due to price, but the quality is excellent. 8.5/10"
Mr Shivaji De (13-Oct-2020)
"It simply gets better!
I apologise for my second review of this wine. My last half bottle was gently consumed and complemented Roast Pork with fennel.
One of the Best Guigal CdR drunk for years. The richness of the wine cut through the Flavours of the pork and was a marriage made in heaven.
I have a magnum and 6 x 75cl bottles yet to drink plus a few from the 2015 vintage.
It’s going to be an enjoyable autumn.
Enjoy!"
Mr Malcolm J Davies (30-Aug-2020)
"Decent everyday drinking wine available in half bottles art no premium."
Mr Richard Simon (19-Jul-2020)
"The Guigal Cotes-du-Rhône is a stunning wine, full bodied and full of extract. Richness and class with every mouthful.
Complemented Spanish Chicken with Red Peppers.
Highly Recommended..!!"
Mr Malcolm J Davies (05-Jun-2020)
"I have enjoyed this wine and I have logged on to buy more. Very pleasant to drink alone with a steak or a roast beef dinner if like me your (wife) is not a drinker and your children are locked down in their own homes."
Mr Ian Jeffcott (02-May-2020)
"sorry but not to my liking"
Mr Ian Milne (11-Feb-2020)
"Quite lovely and a great half for midweek. Guigal makes 4 Million bottles of their CdR rouge and there used to be over 10 bottlings. In my experience they could vary, this one is absolutely terrific. 50% Syrah / 40% Grenache / 10% Mourvedre, the wine kept in oak for 18 months and you get a quality v price that is brilliant. I always decant and the wine does markedly improve over several hours. Last night with griddled pork chops and really good. When you get a legendary vintage in the Southern Rhone such as was seen in 2016, combine that with the awesome wine making skills of the Guigal's; the product can be a CdR for the ages. This wine will evolve and improve. I have just finished the last bottles of my 2012 and they were still drinking very well!!
This is one to buy by the case, put some in the garage and /or get torn in now, your choice. But do not miss out, that would be tragic!! "
Soorat Singh Esq (14-Aug-2019)
2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
Mr Paul Emery (18-Apr-2019)
"Great value for money and in a handy half bottle. I would like to see wine sold in 500ml flasks, but that's just me. Lovely fruit and gets better with a couple of hours of air. This CdR is almost a legend for consistent quality and if you have not tried it, I implore you, so to do! And we have the terrific prospect that when the 2015 sells out, given the great 2016 vintage alongside the marvellous 2017 wines, we are well set for years to come. I put cases of this CdR in the garage for 5 years, you cannot believe quite the swans they develop into!! "
Soorat Singh Esq (22-Jan-2019)
"Very french but underwhelmed by this
Not sure that I'll be back for more"
Mr Steven Foster (09-Dec-2018)
"Great Guigal wine - full bodied, solid mouthful of wine, needs time to open up. Complements a casserole or steak pie. All in a handy size half bottle at a sensible price!
"
Mr Malcolm J Davies (14-Aug-2018)
2014 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Totally agree with previous review. Splendid from the French. One reviewer of the McManis US Petit Syrah said that knocked the French wines he'd tried for six due to bold fruits . This is the wine you need to try in the French equivalent. Forget the overpriced Bordeaux, go Rhone to get value, gorgeous fruits, cherries, red berries, long finish. Rhone is the future. Great price, if you love your fruit coming through strong with small tannins try this wine now! For less then £10 everybody looking for French quality wine on a budget needs to try this."
Mr Greig P Godfrey (01-Nov-2018)
"This wine is absolutely superb. The blend of Syrah and Grenache makes for a rich, full, fruity taste. I will be buying more. Great with cheese."
Mr Ray Mount (29-Jan-2018)
2014 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
JancisRobinson.com (29th Dec 2017)
"What did you get for
Christmas? Hungover? Argumentative? Hysterical? Then you need something
guaranteed to put things right, to give you the bottled equivalent of a nice
warm cuddle, and Guigal's red Côtes du Rhône does exactly that. It's the Holy
Trinity of wine: crowd-pleasing, widely available and superb value ...
It's perfect for the neophyte: relatively pronounceable, reasonably affordable
and absolutely delicious. It has generous primary fruit, medium body and
rounded texture. Yet it offers plenty to delight the vinous veteran too:
genuine complexity on the nose, accurate varietal characteristics and a
tangible sense of place.
Tasting the 2014 vintage twice this year, I was delighted to find it is just as
good as ever ... Both times, I was struck by just how elaborate and generous
the aromas were, with tobacco and black pepper (the varietal characteristics)
alongside rich, generous fruit and herbal notes (the sense of place).
The acidity is more refreshing than most generic Rhône wines, thanks to the high
proportion of syrah, and while the tannins are pleasingly firm and traditional,
it is 100% drinkable now. This must surely be one of the most reliable
large-scale wines in existence.
Indeed, two million bottles of this vintage were made, sourced from grapes
grown by 300 different growers (all located in the southern Rhône,
incidentally). The blend is 50% syrah, 40% grenache and 10% mourvèdre and it
spends 18 months in oak before bottling. Such a reliable, affordable and
outright delicious wine should be made available to every wine drinker
(Guigalitarianism?) ...
So, wherever you are in the world, I wish that your 2018 may be as reliable and
enjoyable and fulfilling as Guigal's red Côtes du Rhône 2014. Happy New Year! - Richard Hemming"
2013 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Marvellous fruitiness, full bodied, absolutely delicious
"
Mr Ray Mount (23-Jan-2018)
"Difficult to review. Not corked but flat and uninteresting. Had decanted for drinking the following day. Tried running through aerator between decanter and glass but no noticeable improvement. General comment from guests was 'it's okay but....'. Had to hurriedly open something else."
Mr Peter Wooldridge (31-Dec-2017)
"Had austerity on nose - almost leathery but also light and nuanced
On palate has potato touch aswell as being acidic - seems young ... is there enough juice for it to develop?
Is very open to breathing - mellows it out and this is worthwhile, as is trying a few bottles
"
Mr Hugo Allen-Stevens (04-Oct-2017)
"The 2012 was very good. The 2013 is very disappointing and some of the bottles were corked with a nasty earthy smell and taste. Be careful !"
Mr Kenneth Anderson (13-Aug-2017)
"Blakcurrant, vanilla and black cherries on the nose and on tasting as well. Added bonus of pepper on the mid-palate.
Sadly there was no real finish else this would have absolutely got 4 stars!"
Mr Alex Downham (13-Jul-2017)
2013 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Suffolk Free Press (28th Sep 2017)
"Ripe, with a
blackberry-toned and harmonious mouth-feel, a lick of liquorice and twist of
peppery spice. Drinking beautifully now. - Neil Courtier"
2012 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"This review is for the 2012 vintage.
Colour: Intense and bright, deep ruby with a red rim.
Aroma: Complex, lots going on, smoky and herbal (lavender and fennel), earthy notes of cured meat, bacon fat, band-aid and leather all backed up by raspberry, blackberrry and lots of spice.
Taste: Dry, med body, rich, abundant acidity, lovely texture from the silky smooth tannin. Smoky crunchy red and black berries on the palate but the finish although hot and spicy is all too brief.
Overall: Excellent stuff, a wine with finesse. I did expect more flavour on the palate and a longer finish but the nose and texture more than made up for that. A good balance between fruit and oak, great value, recommend."
Mr Gabriel Higgins (23-Apr-2019)
"And now as good as Guigal CdR gets!?!
This wine is value for money - on steroids! LoL
Cannot wait for the 2015/16.
Until then I've got some CdR to enjoy.
"
Soorat Singh Esq (28-Jan-2018)
"Tried a bottle last evening and to my delight, the corner has turned. It took a couple of hours in a decanter but the drinking window is now ajar. Maybe 6 months for it to be open wide, but the wine is starting to show all of the attributes that Guigal CdR is rightly lauded for. "Fill yur boots!!" as the Scots would say, before its all snapped up."
Soorat Singh Esq (29-Jan-2017)
"Lovely CdR. Haven't drunk this in years, but I will again as a go to house wine."
Mr Russell Sainty (02-Jan-2017)
"Tried 3 bottles so far and they all exhibited the attributes of a wine that has gone into its shell. When it does emerge in a while, I have absolutely no doubt that it will be terrific; hopefully akin to the 2011 that I drank recently which was utterly gorgeous. Buy to keep, you will not be disappointed but at this instant, it just is not ready to display the attributes that for over 30 years has given me so much pleasure."
Soorat Singh Esq (01-Oct-2016)
"Its just too early to drink this vintage. Its tight, austere and a tad acrid. Even after 3hrs decanting its still like a stealth bomber. I know in a few years it will be fantastic, they always are fantastic value and worth 5 stars, when ready, but drinking it now is a chore.The 2011 is delish by comparison."
Mr James Brown (31-Aug-2016)
"This is one of my go to wines and one that represents good value for money. There is spicy pepper and lots of dark brambles fruit. It has a nice long finish. Goes well with meat but today we enjoyed it with a rich salad. I've bought a case and I look forward to enjoying drinking this wine in the future.
"
Dr Paul Brennan (01-Jul-2016)
"Fabulously reliable go-to red for superior everyday drinking. I was given a Chateauneuf the other day, which wasn't a patch on the Guigal CdR. This manages to combine drinkability with more complexity than you'd expect for the price and humble CdR badge. It has richness, softness, spice, and a touch of ageing. That good combination of being sturdy enough to stand up to hearty food but very drinkable on its own. Not the most original choice, perhaps, but I go back to it year after year. Everyone should have some in the rack!"
Mr Robert Trevelyan (28-Jun-2016)
"Long been a fan of this Cotes Du Rhone. The 2007 was/ is great, lovely and smooth with some body and good fruit. The 2011 followed this pretty well although doesn't have the measure of the former. Having opened a bottle of the 2012 last night it is still a bit young (as at June 2016) so would suggest decanting and leaving at room temperature for a good hour. Either that or get a case and put it at the back of your cellar/ garage for a year or two. Shows good promise of matching the 2011 at least."
Mr Martin Ford (02-Jun-2016)
2012 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Kent & Sussex Courier (12th Apr 2017)
"This is my go-to wine
whenever I want a special bottle for roast beef, lamb stew or a leg of lamb.
It's soft in texture but chock-full with complexity, verve and character. Deft
use of oak adds to the texture but doesn't detract from the chocolatey
blackberry and red cherry fruit. Class in a glass and the perfect match for an
Easter roast, this is a must-try from one of France's top grower-merchants, and
one that punches above its weight in terms of value, especially at the
multi-award winning Wine Society's prices. - James Viner"
Decanter (1st Jun 2016)
"
One of
50 top Rhône reds £8-£18: Bright aromas of crisp red fruits with smoky
roasted undertones. Soft notes of creamy vanilla complement the fruit on a
yielding palate kept in check by fine tannins and a fresh mineral finish.
Poised and polished.- Matt Walls
"
2011 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"I have been drinking Guigal's CDR red for 30 years and it never disappoints. In the 1980's it was said that most his declassified wine from his better cuvees ended up in his CDR. In those days if you cellared the wine after about 5 years it had thrown a healthy and satisfying to see, sediment. The 2011 is quite delicious currently but having tasted the 2012, this wine is a little way off being ready to drink.
What I wonder the 2015 will be like, I have no idea; but I'm sure that it will be fun to see when it is released in maybe 2017/8!!"
Soorat Singh Esq (25-Apr-2016)
"This was excellent, as per. The 2011 is drinking very well in 2016, and for a while I was struggling to understand how this vintage hadn't gone out of stock sooner. Guigal's red CdR has been a firm family favourite of ours for a long time and makes a great match for most weekday dinners. Lots of warm red fruit with some piquancy toward the finish. As for the dryness others have identified, it really isn't as much of an issue as it is being made out to be. With the age, it has softened nicely. I have high hopes for the 2012."
Mr Oliver Saddington (15-Feb-2016)
"This is no easy drinking Côte du Rhone. It is a somewhat brooding brute of a wine that you do not expect at this price. It has considerable length but the taste is hard to define. No easy fruit, leathery maybe, spicy perhaps but certainly very dry and bordering on the austere if not astringent. Finding a suitable food match is going to be difficult as it may overpower all but the strongest flavours. (Our epoisse gave it a run for its money and I think it will take more than a British banger to do it justice.) Challenging but an interesting experience."
Mr Nicholas Monk (07-Dec-2015)
"Certainly doesn't taste like a standard Cote du Rhone (although, to be fair at £10 a bottle it isn't priced like one either). I suppose the quality is hardly surprising when you consider that some of Guigal's top wines sell for up to 50x the price. This is a delicious, fruit-driven Syrah with cherry, plum and dark berry ftuit, and leather and pepper complexity, with an impressive length for a standard appellation wine. If this came in a bottle with 'St. Joseph' on the label I wouldn't be disappointed! It's certainly ready for drinking now (2015) and probably wouldn't benefit much from further aging."
Mr Barry Smith (30-Oct-2015)
"Given bottle by French student. Mr Bill Davy's bottle must have been off. Interesting to compare this with same-price 2012 Ogier Le Temps est venu. The Guigal is more savoury and 'meatier', and the nose gets better and better. I probably prefer it, though both wines are very good and 'Le Temps est venu' is more elegant."
Professor John L Moles (01-Apr-2015)
"Incredibly good value Cotes du Rhone - big and smooth. Will buy again. I opened a £15 bottle supermarket Châteauneuf-du-Pape afterwards and it was disappointing in comparison to this."
Mr Anthony O'Halloran (07-Mar-2015)
"This really did not agree with me. A muddy rather nasty flavour. I did not write anything down but it is the first wine I have returned. Some suggested I should have tried another bottle, or put it aside for a year or two. Perhaps I have been spoiled by good old CduR (indulging some Guigal)."
Mr Bill Davy (21-Jul-2014)
"This is a top end Cotes du Rhone that packs in SO much more that the price tag would lead you to think. Still quite early in its 'evolution' but is perfect for drinking with BBQ'd red meats or sausages. Very full bodied and certainly fills your mouth out but the tannins are not obtrusive in any way."
Mr John Dryburgh (07-Jul-2014)