"A blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache, the 2005 Cotes du Rhone is a real head turner. Full-bodied, with a deep ruby/purple color and sweet notes of berry fruit, a hint of road tar, and some pepper, the wine is dense, chewy, ripe, and a surprisingly big mouthful of juicy, velvety-textured wine to drink over the next 3-4 years. The Rhone Valley's most successful producer continues to ratchet up the level of quality of his Cotes du Rhone cuvees, of which he produces hundreds of thousands of cases. Both Marcel Guigal and his son Philippe realize how important quality is and demonstrate that commitment in these lower level wines. They just get better and better, which is incredibly admirable."
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
89 Points

"Based on 55% syrah. Deep red. Intensely perfumed bouquet of dark berries, kirsch, smoked meat, violet and graphite; really showing off the syrah today. Round and sweet, with fleshy cherry, black raspberry and candied flower flavors framed by silky tannins. A deeper cocoa quality joins the dark berries on the finish. This superb Cotes du Rhone is a benchmark for the category." 89 Points,
International Wine Cellar

"This is like the Rhone ina glass: red cherries, rosemary and a savory meatiness that brings to mind lamb. Put some chops on the grill." 88 Points
Wine & Spirits
June 2009