E. Guigal Hermitage Blanc

Eye : Consistent straw yellow.

Nose : Complex nose with dominant floral vegetal notes and acacia honey. Elegant and delicate oak.

Palate : Spicy with good structure. A wine for ageing.

Overall : Overall balance and with deep complex aromas characteristic of these rare white wines.

Wine Advocate 90-92: Guigal's 2019 Hermitage Blanc features assertive notes of toasted grain, grilled pineapple and ripe melon on the nose. Sourced from Beaumes, Murets, Dionnières and Pierrelles, it's medium to full-bodied, but it seems—at least at this stage—to show a touch of warmth on the finish.

James Suckling 93: Not for the faint-hearted, this has lots of beeswax and candied orange in the nose, also notes of toast and vanilla. A bold, rich and weighty white Hermitage, but the fine tannins support this expansiveness very well. A cuvee of 95% marsanne and 5% roussanne. 50% new oak and 50% used barrels for two years. Drink or hold.

Vinous 92: Lemon peel, ripe pear, dried blossom, cedar and melon nuances introduce the classy 2019 Hermitage Blanc. Offering a medium body and refreshing acidity, it leaves a slightly saline aftertaste on the sapid finale.

Decanter 90: Apple and pear aromas with a touch of florality. It's full-bodied, rich and silky on the palate, but the acidity is well balanced. There's a good sense of precision here, it's well made; but drink soon. From 25-year-old vines grown on clay, silt, sand and gravel; aged for 12 months partly in barrels before release.

Wine Advocate 92: Matured in one-year barrels, the 2020 Hermitage Blanc wafts from the glass with aromas of almonds, spices, ripe orchard fruits and attractive oaky nuances. Medium- to full-bodied, round and sappy, it is layered and textural, with a subtly tannic frame attributable to the solar, dry vintage, leading to a long, gently ethereal finish.

James Suckling 93: A solid, creamy and textured white from mainly marsanne. It has notes of spices apples, dried lemons, dried herbs, cedar and mild spices. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture. Well balanced and supple for the appellation, with more baked lemons in the finish. Drink or hold.