E. Guigal, Côtes de Rhône (France) 2018

 In spite of their inherent variability due to the variety of grapes, quality of grapes and finesse of the winemaker, a surprising number of Côtes de Rhône reds are more similar than not.  They are my favorite comfort wine, almost always better than I anticipate when I pull the cork in delivering a fresh but savory fruit and a slightly gamey finish.  E. Guigal is one of my favorites, and this one doesn’t leave me disappointed.  It is not a great wine – that level of depth isn’t present – but its balance will ensure it will still be enjoyable five or ten years from now, although there is no reason other than serendipity to keep it that long.  It is a rich and sturdy wine – almost, but not quite, burly – with great fruit and nice herbal/earthy notes, a tangy finish and crisp tannins.  If I had a house wine, this one would be a leading contender.