2019 E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 750 ml

Look—we know we’re not alone in our love for E. Guigal. But we don’t revere the Rhône icon just for their priceless reds. We revere them because everything they bottle—from their $400+ La Las to their modest Côtes-du-Rhônes—leaves us marveling at how they do what they do so well.

Their 2019 Crozes-Hermitage is a perfect example.

Grown on hilly terrain in Crozes-Hermitage—which we think of as the Hermitage AOC’s overachieving neighbor—it’s got power. It’s got impeccable balance, too. It’s got the myriad savory elements that make Northern Rhône Syrah some of the most distinctive and sought-after red wine in the world. Vibrant ruby, bristling with blackberry and cracked pepper, their 2019 Crozes-Hermitage is the accessible way to experience a landmark Northern Rhône winery and a spectacular vintage that Wine Spectator rated a stunning 96 points.

The grapes in Guigal’s bottling come from 36-year-old vines planted on low-yielding hillside vineyards heavy in limestone, clay, silt, and sandy gravel. Like the Hermitage reds with which they share a name, Guigal’s wines from Crozes-Hermitage deliver the quintessence of the Northern Rhône style.

After 18 months in oak barrels (produced at Guigal’s own cooperage) and another year in bottle, the wine shows an inky shade of deep purple. It’s got warmed blackberries, fresh cracked pepper, and lavender. Broad and rich in mouthfeel, the palate is framed by fresh, sapid tannins that carry the notes of garrigue, smoked game, and abundant blackberry and blueberry fruits.

This is a red we pack into our own cellars every year. We know you’ll love it.