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E. Guigal - Condrieu La Doriane 2016
Wine
La Doriane is a luxury cuvée of Condrieu that E. Guigal has produced since the 1994 vintage. A great success since the first vintage, the wine always seems richly oaked and very fruity when young, transforming in 3-4 years into a seamlessly complex, aromatic and vibrant wine. La Doriane contradicts the accepted wisdom that Condrieu does not age well.
Estate
The firm of E. Guigal, located in Ampuis, was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Since 1961 his son Marcel has led the estate, and his unparalleled work ethic and dedication to quality have brought attention to Cote-Rotie and other appellations throughout the Rhone that were in danger of being lost, and lifted the Guigal wines to the pinnacle of the wine world. Today, Marcel’s son Philippe serves as Director and Oenologist, continuing the tradition of leadership in the Rhone Valley and uncompromising excellence.
Vineyard
The Viognier grapes for this wine are sourced from some of the finest sites in the appellation, including Côtes Chatillon, a steeply terraced vineyard overlooking the town of Condrieu itself. The other vineyards are Coteaux de Chery and Colombier, situated further south, and starting in 2005, Château Volan – an exceptionally steep, south-facing vineyard near the town of Malleval. The vines average around 35 years of age. Guigal performs several green harvests during the growing season in these vineyards to keep yields exceptionally low.
Vinification
In the vintages 1994 through 1997, Guigal made the wine in a fashion similar to his 'regular' cuvee, fermenting a portion in new oak barrels (33% for the regular, 50% for La Doriane) and the rest in stainless steel. For the 2016 vintage, La Doriane was fermented and aged in 100% new oak barriques for 12 months, with a higher level of fine lees included in the fermenting must to help the wine integrate the oak character more completely. 100% malolactic fermentation.
