E. Guigal is one of the most notable wine producers in the Rhône Valley. It was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis – where the headquarters remain to this day – on the western banks of the Rhône river, a stone's throw from the famous sun-roasted slopes of the Côte Rôtie. Guigal has a long history of winegrowing, and today the company hold plots throughout the nothern and southern Rhône and produces wines from classic northern Rhône and Mediterranean varieties including Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier and Roussanne, although the focus has always been on Syrah and the Côte Rôtie. The company's sizeable holdings include the likes of Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Gigondas, Condrieu and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and wines are made from each, often labeled simply by their appellation title – a format that runs into the more affordable Côtes du Rhône range (which can be found in red, white and rosé form). 2005 "A full-bodied and richly tannic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Guigal's 2005 displays dried cherries and prune aromas and flavors tinged with leathery notes. Despite having the tannic intensity to support aging, will the fruit dry out further? I'd opt for drinking this over the next five years or so." 2003 "Eye : Deep dark red. Nose : Spices and mature red fruits. Palate : Round tannins with powerful complexity. A rich unctuous wine with notes of mature plums, hazelnuts and red fruits. Overall : Very rich wine full of harmony and balance."