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2015 Guigal Hermitage Ex Voto Blanc

2015 Guigal Hermitage Ex Voto Blanc

100 JD

Featured Review
The 2015 Hermitage Ex Voto Blanc is certainly in the same league as the 2009 and 2010, and it’s going to be interesting to compare these vintages over the coming 2-3+ decades. The 2015 has all the hallmarks of a great vintage with its huge bouquet of quince, toasted almonds, brioche, liquid rocks, and honeysuckle as well as touch of licorice. Sensationally concentrated, opulent, and multi-dimensional on the palate, it has bright acidity and an awesome sense of minerality that keep the wine chiseled and focused on the palate. It has the structure of a red wine and will keep for 4-5 decades. Bravo! Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JD

Critic Reviews

The 2015 Hermitage Ex Voto Blanc is certainly in the same league as the 2009 and 2010, and it’s going to be interesting to compare these vintages over the coming 2-3+ decades. The 2015 has all the hallmarks of a great vintage with its huge bouquet of quince, toasted almonds, brioche, liquid rocks, and honeysuckle as well as touch of licorice. Sensationally concentrated, opulent, and multi-dimensional on the palate, it has bright acidity and an awesome sense of minerality that keep the wine chiseled and focused on the palate. It has the structure of a red wine and will keep for 4-5 decades. Bravo!

Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JD
Features a gorgeous brioche frame around the creamed pear, yellow apple, quince and white peach flavors, with glistening verbena, honeysuckle and green almond notes on the finish. Showy and beautiful. Marsanne and Roussanne. Best from 2020 through 2030. 292 cases made, 88 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 96 WS
Since the 2016 hasn't been bottled yet, I was offered a second look at the in-bottle 2015 Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc, which I rated 94+? last year. This year, it's a bit more open, showing toasty-nutty notes of almonds and hazelnuts layered over intense melon and pear fruit. This full-bodied powerhouse shows great texture, spice and length. Although drinkable now, I've no doubt it will be singing with the cheese course in 15 years.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RP
(aged for 30 months in 100% new oak barrels) Limpid yellow-gold. Smoke- and mineral-tinged orchard and pit fruit and honey aromas show outstanding clarity, and a sexy floral element emerges slowly. Intense, palate-staining pear, peach nectar and tangerine flavors show superb energy and complicating notes of anise, iodine and nougat. Fleshes out and becomes spicier on the mineral-driven finish, which hangs on with outstanding tenacity and a lingering floral quality.

Vinous Media | 95 VM
This has a very oaky nose thanks to the extended ageing in 100% new oak. Notes of cashew, marzipan and macadamia lead into a very full and flowing palate with generous glycerol and silky oak, and acidity which is a touch low. It is powerfully rich and ripe, with plump fruit underneath and a very long finish. The abiding impression remains of the very good quality oak. Give it time. 20% Hermite, 80% Murets. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038.

Decanter | 94 DEC
The Guigals make Ex Voto only in years they consider exceptional, and focus the white wine on two parcels of the Hermitage hill: the rocky, alluvial Les Murets, and the sandy loess soils of L’Ermite. Mostly marsanne, vinified and aged for 30 months in new oak casks, it’s a lush, full-bodied white that wraps its mineral flavors in warming notes of caramel and spice. While the oak is very present, it’s also in proportion to the depth of fruit and firm structure, which bodes well for this wine’s development over the next 10 to 15 years.

Wine & Spirits | 94 W&S
Smoke, cedar and vanilla tones are pronounced now, but plenty of succulent white peach, apricot and tangerine pulses at the core of this generous white. Rippling and rich yet freshly balanced, it’s a sturdy bottling built for the long haul. Drink through 2026.

Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

Wine Details for 2015 Guigal Hermitage Ex Voto Blanc

Type of Wine Hermitage : Hermitage provides a bouquet of scents and flavors with a texture that cannot be fully deciphered. Expect to be blown away by an orchestral composition of primal blackberries and black raspberries, earthy minerals, playful spice and a thick bassline of smoke. Their immense aging potential makes them ideal candidates for hoarding in your cellar!
Varietal Marsanne : Northern Rhone is home to some of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring wine-producing grapes on earth. It is arguably, the hedonistic capital of the wine-world. While the heady and delectable Syrah-based wines of Cote-Rotie have certainly captivated their audience among red wine consumers, the white grape varietals of Northern Rhone have an image all their own for producing sexy, seductive and mouth-watering whites. Among the varietals responsible for such allure is Marsanne. This white grape, along with its relative, Roussanne, have been producing wines of ethereal quality for centuries and recognized as being some of the greatest whites in the world.

The history of Marsanne remains somewhat of a mystery, though it is believed to have originated in the town for which it is named, Marsanne, near Montelimar, in the northern Rhone Valley. Marsanne-based wines (along with Roussanne) from Hermitage gained notoriety during the 17th Century, being considered among the world’s finest. Thomas Jefferson, Ambassador to France, third president of the United States and wine connoisseur, claimed white Hermitage to be “...the first wine in the world without a single exception.”

Together, Marsanne and Roussanne form the core of white wines from Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Saint-Peray. Marsanne possesses good weight and structure, adds depth and rich texture but lacks any depth of perfume, which explains its long standing Rhone Valley tradition of being blending with is more aromatic relative, Roussanne. Though It is rarely seen apart from Roussanne (to which is shares a parent-offspring relationship) due to the incredible cooperative nature the two varietals serve one another, Marsanne has long suffered the stigma of being the inferior grape. Recently, however, the roles have reversed and Marsanne now occupies more vineyard space in the Northern Rhone than its aromatic stablemate, which is fussier in the vineyard, requiring warmer temperatures and is susceptible to a slew of vineyard diseases. The passing of the torch is not a completely accurate statement, though Marsanne is enjoying its deserved fame, as some of the greatest producers in the world, such as Chapoutier, are creating masterpieces from 100% Marsanne grapes.

Marsanne thrives in terroirs composed of clay, granite, chalk and limestone soils, which are typical of those found in the Northern Rhone Valley. It is perfectly suited to the hilly terrain of Hermitage, where it reaches its best expression. The cooler climate of the region allows the varietal to produce extremely complex and age-worthy wines. The plant, itself, demands a great amount of time to mature and bear fruit, but is one of the longest living, with some of its oldest vines being over 100 years of age.

The berries are small in size with a skin that combines gold, green and brown hues. They grow in loose bunches, which allows natural ventilation and acts as a deterrent against bunch rot and other vineyard hazards. The vines are quite vigorous and thrive in the “poor” soil composition of the region, needing little rain; however it can be a bit demanding of water during the hotter summer months. Harvesting is time-sensitive and must be completed promptly otherwise the grapes lose much needed acidity (as the grapes are considered low to moderate).

Wines produced from Marsanne have aromas of roasted nuts, pears, white peaches, honeydew melon, spices and wildflower, such as honeysuckle, with flavors of honey, chamomile and vanilla custard. They can develop an enthralling mouthfeel with a silky, exotic, oily texture. Marsanne-based wines drink well young, but time spent in bottle allows for notes of hazelnut and almond and the honey tones deepen to caramel. The wines are age-worthy and can be cellared for a decade or more. Although dry styles of Marsanne are more common, some of the very finest examples of the varietal are the sweet Vin de Paille wines, otherwise known as “straw wine.” This labor intensive method entails the grapes being dried on straw mats in the sun, allowing them to become shriveled, raisin-like and extremely concentrated, before being pressed and fermented. The result is a honey-like nectar, sweet dessert wine and is highly touted as being one of the greatest wines in the world.

Eighty percent of the world’s Marsanne is found in France, which should not be surprising. Outside its native homeland of the Rhone Valley, Marsanne has found second home in Australia. The varietal arrived to the southern continent in the 1860s and has done quite well in the terroir and climate “down under.” California is seeing more production from the white varietal, most notably from Tablas Creek, which is considered one of the more Rhone inspired producers, or “Rhone Ranger.” The world is becoming more cognizant of the varietal to which it is greatly deserved.
Country France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world.



For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide.



France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity.



France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.



With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.


Region Rhone : While the Northern Rhone produces only about 5% of all wine coming out of the Rhone Valley, the quality of these bottles is not to be underestimated. The terroir in this region is heavenly for growing Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne or Rousanne - the only permitted grapes in the AOC. Picture this - the Rhone flows through the valley like an azure thread piercing the landscape, a reflection of the dreamy skies hovering above the vineyards, ready to produce rainfall at a moment's notice. The rocky soil of the steep, almost surreal hillsides provides a bountiful feast for the grapevine roots. The flavors and texture of Northern Rhone wines tell you everything you need to know as soon as your lips touch the elixir, like a whisper in the vigorous valley winds

As per the Southern Rhone wine, it is like taking a plunge into a whirlpool of juicy flavor. Every sip explodes forward like a crashing tsunami, bathing your tastebuds in delicious aromas of prune, chocolate, grass, and black fruit. The wines are so compelling that it can be hard to drink them casually at a social event without getting lost in their intricate textures and emotional depths. Let's set sail together, and drink deep from these luxurious bottles with our friends and loved ones.

Overview

Producer Guigal

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