Ray Isle’s latest feature in Food & Wine offers an education on French wine in “Drink These 50 Wines to Be a French Wine Expert.” He offers an A to Z overview of the styles and key wine producing regions, and further personalizes the content for beginners and more advanced wine lovers. In “Le Advanced” section, he suggests comparing two specific wines from different appellations or styles to further appreciate the nuances both offer. A great exercise is exploring the distinctions between two Rhône Valley red wines, one from the north and one from the south. Ray selects the E. Guigal 2016 Crozes-Hermitage for the Northern Rhône pick. He explains, “Southern Rhône reds are typically blends, dominated by Grenache. In the north, no blends: Syrah rules all. The southern Saint Cosme (pronounced like “comb”) is all ripe raspberries, white pepper, and wild herbs. The northern E. Guigal’s fruit is blacker, with hints of olive and black pepper, its tannins more taut and muscular.” Read the full article for a deep dive in wine education HERE
Related Wines
E. Guigal
E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2016
Crozes-Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage can be considered the gateway to the red and white wines of the Northern Rhône Valley. The reds, which are the majority of production, have wonderful warm flavors of red and black fruit, and typical Syrah pepper, spice and savory notes.
Related Producers
E. Guigal
Rhône Valley, France
The more you learn about the Guigal family, the more astounding becomes their story. Their wines are the benchmarks for every Rhone appellation, and over the last thirty years they have become arguably the most lauded producer in the world. Year after year the Guigal family produces wines of exceptional quality that in all classes offer exceptional value.
