Guigal Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc 2013

Guigal Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc 2013 is a commanding white Hermitage that shows just how profound Marsanne can be in the right hands. This is a dense, luxurious and deeply mineral wine that marries opulent texture with striking freshness and detail. Produced only in top vintages and in very limited quantities, Ex Voto Blanc has become one of the benchmark dry white wines of the Northern Rhône.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2013 Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc is a deep, luminous gold, hinting at both concentration and evolution. The nose is intense and layered, with waves of buttered stone fruits (apricot, peach), toasted brioche, roasted nuts and a subtle charcoal smokiness. Underneath the richness lies a clearly defined mineral core, reminiscent of crushed stones and wet rock, giving the wine both structure and lift. On the palate, this is full-bodied, viscous and almost glycerol in texture, yet perfectly balanced by a firm, stony backbone. Flavors echo the nose: ripe stone fruit, honeyed tones, grilled almond and hazelnut, along with notes of toast and a faint saline edge. The finish is long, broad and mouthcoating, with a savoury, mineral persistence that keeps the wine from ever feeling heavy. Still youthful for its age, the 2013 has many years ahead of it and will continue to gain complexity over the next decade or more under good cellaring conditions.

Production
Ex Voto Blanc comes from selected parcels on the storied Hermitage hill, where old-vine Marsanne (with a small proportion of Roussanne) grows on steep, granitic slopes with pockets of clay and limestone. These low-yielding vineyards are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness to capture both concentration and freshness. In the cellar, Guigal applies meticulous selection, followed by fermentation and long élevage in oak barrels (a proportion of which are new), with regular bâtonnage to build texture and complexity. The result is a powerful, ageworthy white that fully expresses the Hermitage terroir’s tension between richness and minerality.

Food & Serving
This is a gastronomic white wine that shines with richly flavored dishes: think lobster with butter or cream sauces, scallops, roasted turbot, monkfish, or poultry such as roast chicken or guinea fowl with morel cream. It also pairs beautifully with veal, truffled dishes, mature hard cheeses and rich vegetable gratins. Serve at around 11–13°C to allow the aromatics to unfurl without losing tension. A decant of 30–60 minutes is recommended for a bottle at this age, both to open up the bouquet and to let the wine stretch out on the palate.

Producer
Founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis, Maison Guigal has grown into one of the most respected and influential producers in the Rhône Valley. Still family-owned and run, Guigal is renowned for its exacting standards from vineyard to bottle, and for elevating the reputation of both Côte-Rôtie and the wider Northern Rhône on the world stage. The Ex Voto range, produced only in exceptional vintages, represents the pinnacle of the estate’s work in Hermitage, showcasing the depth, complexity and ageworthiness that this legendary hill can produce in both red and white wines.

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