WTN: 1998 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde

Textbook CR. More towards the feminine side. Savory flavors with nice black pepper aromas. Good length and drinking in a nice place right now. Mature plateau at the moment. Wonderful! Bottle 5 of 6.

[David M. Bueker]

Sounds reliably tasty! I'm holding off on the '99 for a while longer, as I think (based on other CR) that it will need more time.

The CR is my favorite of Guigal's "mass market" bottlings. It has so much more charm than his rather stern Hermitage.

Agreed David. This one was priced so well, I'm pretty sure it was under $30 on release. Although I haven't tried the '99, it wouldn't be a crime to try one. I had the '99 Ogier a month or so ago and, while still young, it was very generous and a reallly enjoyable drink. I've had other '99s like Jasmin and Bonnefond that are in nice places right now.

[David M. Bueker]

I found the '99 Bonnefond rather tight a few days ago.

I usually decant these which may have been to my benefit. In any case, drink now for tomorrow...

Sounds reliably tasty! I'm holding off on the '99 for a while longer, as I think (based on other CR) that it will need more time.

The CR is my favorite of Guigal's "mass market" bottlings. It has so much more charm than his rather stern Hermitage.

One reason for that might be that he has better vineyards in CR than he does on the Hermitage hill.

Mark Lipton

Sounds reliably tasty! I'm holding off on the '99 for a while longer, as I think (based on other CR) that it will need more time.

You can hold longer, but I don't know what you'll find there when you get 'there'. I had a bottle for Easter and it definately showed young, but was a shadow of the wines Guigal made in the 80's. I was slightly disappointed. Hopefully you'll have better luck.

but was a shadow of the wines Guigal made in the 80's.

This is probably because there are lots of folks making CR now that sold Guigal great fruit in the 80s.

I had the '85 Guigal CR BeB recently. It was fabulous.

Guigal still has some pretty damned spectacular vineyards in the AOC, both in Brunes and Blonde.

(And I agree with what Herr Doktor Professor Lipton posted re the CR and the Hermitage.)

Has Guigal changed? Yeah, sure.

Has CR and the entire northern Rhone changed drastically? Oh, yeah...

[David M. Bueker]

I had the '85 CR a while back, and it was interesting for 45 minutes then fell apart.

The '95 CR was stunning with a crispy pork shank (with bacon cream) a couple of years ago. I am hoping for a repeat at some point with the '99.

I had the '85 CR a while back, and it was interesting for 45 minutes then fell apart.

I don't think mine lasted 45 minutes!