"Simple" Côtes du Rhône, but it has nothing of a "basic" wine!
The vintage

Indeed, all along the year, 2012 did not spare the Vignerons : even the savviest got confused, almost losing their points of references, while dealing with its tricks ! Heterogeneity in the vineyard would bear, right from the start, the mark
of damage caused by winter frost. Sadly enough, very old Grenache and Syrah vines did not survive this frost. Loss of a precious heritage, impact on the
yields of the upcoming harvest, Vignerons were already under pressure…
Conversely, the months of July and August were extremely hot, speeding
up the maturing process, as a first step, but worsening water stress, in a second. Rarest reaction, the Vignerons came to bless the rains that fell beginning of September, as they profitably revived the phenolic ripening of the grapes. In the end, deciding the right moment to pick up grapes caused the
serious Vignerons a real headache ! To the extent that the harvesting of
the different cépages, in the different parcelles, followed a more than widely unusual order…
And now, for one more uncommon observation : opting for a later harvest was not necessarily the winning choice, in 2012 : the exception that proves the
rule !
Now, at this stage, as the Wines are nearing the end of the fermenting process,
they already impose their real potential : they are very, very, good… Thus, they lead us to admit that, from contrasts, Harmony can arise...

Terroir

Cairanne, Rasteau, Plan de Dieu, Vacqueyras.

Ageing

12 months in one and two vintages old barrels - Allier and Tronçais. Then 6 months in foudre.

Serving

14°C
Decant 1h before tasting.

Tasting

This cuvée is airy, all finesse... Off the beatentracks, Guy - Louis illustrates why it is such a smashing success!

Alcohol content

14,5%

Cépages

Grenache : 60 %
Syrah : 40 %

Vivid purple. Pungent blueberry and plum scents are enlivened by white pepper and smoky minerality. Juicy and intense, offering energetic black and blue fruit flavors and good stony cut. Finishes with an echo of blueberry, velvety tannins and very good mineral-tinged persistence.

Josh Raynolds
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar , 89-90/100 , 2014-04-01

"A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah (with the Syrah aged a small part in new oak), the 2012 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Guy Louis has a modern slant in its graphite, violets, blackberry, mineral and chocolate-styled bouquet. Actually smelling like a northern Rhone Syrah, this medium-bodied, nicely concentrated and fresh southern Rhone will drink nicely.

Jeb Dunnuck
Wine Advocate , 89-92 , 2013-12-01