The 2015 Guigal Hermitage, a Syrah from the renowned Rhone region of France, has garnered impressive reviews from several notable wine critics. This red wine, produced by Guigal, showcases the complexity and depth characteristic of the Hermitage appellation.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this vintage a score of 92, highlighting its potential for aging. The reviewer notes, "The impressive 2015 Hermitage looks to have closed down already. Cedary notes dominate the aromas, while concentrated cherries appear on the richly textured, chewy palate. This powerful, tannic wine needs at least another 5 years in the cellar, but it should come out the other side of this funk in fine shape." This suggests that while currently reserved, the wine holds promise for future development.
Wine Spectator gave an excellent review, scoring it 95 points. The review describes it as "Ripe and polished, driven by mouthwatering raspberry, blueberry and blackberry sauce flavors racing through, inlaid with a graphite spine and backed by mouthwatering apple wood and anise notes on the finish. Solidly built and vibrant from start to finish." This high praise underscores the wine's vibrant and well-structured nature.
James Suckling scored it 93 points, appreciating its oak integration and savory palate. He states, "This handles the oak better than most. There’s dried straw, melon and lemons, in fresh form. The palate has a super-savory, pastry and biscuit edge, opening out to a long, smoothly rendered array of apples and pears. Spicy kick at the close. Great structure."
Jeb Dunnuck, awarding it 94 points, calls it a "rocking wine that does everything right," noting its "saturated purple color, a great nose of blackberries, ground herbs, tapenade, and liquid violets, full body, and a layered, powerful style."
Wine Enthusiast gave the highest score of 96, describing it as "majestic" with a "pulsating core of black plum and berry flavors" and "firm, fine-grained tannins." The review recommends holding the wine until at least 2022 for optimal enjoyment.
The 2015 Guigal Hermitage is built to last, with Wine & Spirits noting its potential for long-term aging due to 36 months in oak barrels. Vinous also highlighted its youthful nature and dense, focused palate, scoring it 94 points.
Overall, the 2015 Guigal Hermitage is a robust and promising Syrah, praised for its complexity, structure, and aging potential.
