We all know and love Guigal as one of the great benchmark estates of the Northern Rhône, and the Hermitage Blanc is a rare find and a particularly impressive example in 2022, with power, richness, and structure. Produced from 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne, the wine comes from vines ranging from roughly 30 to 90 years old on the legendary hill of Hermitage, where limestone, sand and gravel contribute both depth and a firm mineral backbone. The 2022 vintage was exceptionally warm and dry, producing concentrated, fully ripe fruit, but the best wines retained excellent natural acidity, and Guigal’s Hermitage Blanc balances that richness beautifully. Fermentation is carried out at cool temperatures before the wine spends 24 months in seasoned oak barrels, building texture and complexity without overwhelming the fruit's character. White peach, pear and stone fruit are layered with acacia blossom, honey, praline and subtle spice, with a broad, satiny palate that remains remarkably fresh and focused through the finish. There is serious weight and concentration here, as well as the structure and mineral tension necessary for long-term development. This is a classic, age-worthy white Hermitage from one of the Rhône’s greatest estates and a compelling example of just how profound Marsanne can be in the right hands.
Wine Advocate (Yohan Castaing) 95 pts! "Powerful and dense, the 2022 Hermitage Blanc is terrific and complex, mingling aromas of crisp stone fruits, spices, pear, white peach and praline intertwined with subtle oaky notes. Full-bodied, satiny and seamless, it shows a multidimensional core of fruit, vibrant acidity and a dense mid-palate framed by a touch of gastronomic bitterness. Keep it 10 years in the cellar before pulling the cork."
Vinous (Nicolas Griennacher) 93 pts! "The 2022 Hermitage Blanc enters the stage with fragrant lemon flesh, yellow apple, white peach, cedar and spring blossom aromas. Medium-bodied and round, there is excellent drive and tension to this refreshing 2022 Hermitage Blanc, making it the front-runner over to the preceding four vintages–a rockstar Hermitage Blanc. (Drink between 2024 - 2037)"
2022 E. Guigal Hermitage Blanc
2022 E. Guigal Hermitage Blanc
We all know and love Guigal as one of the great benchmark estates of the Northern Rhône, and the Hermitage Blanc is a rare find and a particularly impressive example in 2022, with power, richness, and structure. Produced from 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne, the wine comes from vines ranging from roughly 30 to 90 years old on the legendary hill of Hermitage, where limestone, sand and gravel contribute both depth and a firm mineral backbone. The 2022 vintage was exceptionally warm and dry, producing concentrated, fully ripe fruit, but the best wines retained excellent natural acidity, and Guigal’s Hermitage Blanc balances that richness beautifully. Fermentation is carried out at cool temperatures before the wine spends 24 months in seasoned oak barrels, building texture and complexity without overwhelming the fruit's character. White peach, pear and stone fruit are layered with acacia blossom, honey, praline and subtle spice, with a broad, satiny palate that remains remarkably fresh and focused through the finish. There is serious weight and concentration here, as well as the structure and mineral tension necessary for long-term development. This is a classic, age-worthy white Hermitage from one of the Rhône’s greatest estates and a compelling example of just how profound Marsanne can be in the right hands.
Wine Advocate (Yohan Castaing) 95 pts! "Powerful and dense, the 2022 Hermitage Blanc is terrific and complex, mingling aromas of crisp stone fruits, spices, pear, white peach and praline intertwined with subtle oaky notes. Full-bodied, satiny and seamless, it shows a multidimensional core of fruit, vibrant acidity and a dense mid-palate framed by a touch of gastronomic bitterness. Keep it 10 years in the cellar before pulling the cork."
Vinous (Nicolas Griennacher) 93 pts! "The 2022 Hermitage Blanc enters the stage with fragrant lemon flesh, yellow apple, white peach, cedar and spring blossom aromas. Medium-bodied and round, there is excellent drive and tension to this refreshing 2022 Hermitage Blanc, making it the front-runner over to the preceding four vintages–a rockstar Hermitage Blanc. (Drink between 2024 - 2037)"
