Guigal Hermitage

[Kcwhippet]

I have an opportunity to score a quantity of the 1987 Hermitage at a real steal. It's been sitting in a distributor's warehouse under cellar conditions since about 1990. We tasted a bottle last night and it was utterly delicious - great nose, wonderful flavors and a really long finish. I'm not generally one for French wines or aged wines for that matter, but this was one could make me change my stripes. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Innkeeper]

It was not a great vintage. If it tasted fine to you, and you can get a great price, not just a good one. Go for it. It will have to be consumed rapidly. Would not pay more than $30 for it.

[sedhed]

I don't know if this will help but I've had the 1990 vintage about 3 times since 2000 and it's still going strong. However, as IK pointed out,1987 for northern Rhone was average at best and does not compare to the 1990 vintage. What you have going for you is a great Rhone producer and optimum storage conditions.
Sounds like you really enjoyed the wine so what's the price they want?

[winoweenie]

Etienne Guigal and now his sons make IMHO some of the greatest wines in all appellations of the Rhone. They also are like Latour inasmuch in poor vintages they manage to produce solid bottlings. You tried it, you liked it, it's sound. Trust your taste-buds there Bubba, sounds like a "Drewski" to me. WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[Kcwhippet]

Had some more tonight and I'm getting it. We're retailing it at about $30. Employee price is less than half that, so even if there's a bottle or two gone away, it's still worth it, IMO.

[sedhed]

$15 for a Guigal you find delicious sounds good to me.

[winoweenie]

The Inspector is LIVID wif' envy. WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[Kcwhippet]

I'll bring a few to Glenora.

[Drew]

[img]http://wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] Nice find, KC, and green is my color.

Drew