E. Guigal : Ex Voto 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Ermitage Ex-Voto 2020 from E. Guigal

Tasting

Appearance

The color stands out for its dark, intense depth, reflecting the vintage’s exceptional concentration.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity. Notes of black fruit come to the fore, joined by hints of leather, licorice and oriental spices that enrich the bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine unfolds a powerful, structured framework. Its rich tannins provide superb substance, supporting a concentrated, lingering expression that highlights this cuvée’s outstanding aging potential.

Food and wine pairings

This exceptional wine pairs beautifully with fine red meats and game. It also matches well with lamb-based dishes or braised beef, as well as recipes enhanced by gentle spices and wild mushrooms.

Serving and cellaring

Ermitage Ex-Voto 2020 is an outstanding cellaring wine that deserves several years of patience before being enjoyed under optimal conditions.

An exceptional Ermitage from the finest terroirs of the Rhône Valley

The estate

Founded in 1946 by Étienne Guigal in Ampuis, the E. Guigal House embodies three generations of excellence in the Rhône Valley. Now led by Philippe Guigal alongside his father Marcel, the estate spans more than seventy-five hectares and remains an essential benchmark. Renowned worldwide for its prestigious cuvées and its commitment to uncompromising quality, the House has earned Haute Valeur Environnementale level-three certification. E. Guigal also has its own artisan cooperage since 2003, enabling it to master every stage in crafting its exceptional wines.

The vineyard

Ermitage Ex-Voto comes from four outstanding parcels on the Hermitage Hill: Les Bessards, Les Greffieux, L'Ermite and Les Murets. Among the appellation’s most prestigious granite terroirs, these sites benefit from ideal exposures and distinct soil compositions. Each lieu-dit contributes its own characteristics to the final blend, creating a singular expression of this legendary terroir. The Hermitage Hill, fully south-facing and composed of granite, offers ideal conditions for Syrah to flourish.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage is defined by a year marked by heat and dryness in the Northern Vallée du Rhône. A milder-than-usual winter led to early budbreak, bringing the winegrowing calendar forward by several weeks. Despite limited rainfall in spring and summer, ripening progressed steadily and evenly throughout the season. This consistent development, without spikes of extreme heat, allowed the grapes to reach optimal maturity with a remarkable balance between concentration and freshness.

Winemaking and aging

Ermitage Ex-Voto 2020 is produced only in vintages deemed exceptional, in keeping with the Guigal House philosophy of placing quality above any commercial consideration. The grapes are hand-harvested with rigorous selection of the finest clusters. The wine then undergoes aging for forty months in new oak barrels, an unusually long period that allows for perfect integration of the wood and the development of exceptional aromatic complexity. This patient approach reflects the House’s commitment to absolute excellence.

Grape variety

100% Syrah