The E. Guigal Ermitage "Ex-Voto" Blanc 2021 is a fascinating contrast to the opulent 2020, capturing the cooler, more classical, and precision-driven character of the 2021 Northern Rhône vintage. While it retains its signature blend of roughly 90% Marsanne and 10% Roussanne from ancient vines, it swaps raw power for architectural grace. In the glass, it presents a bright, shimmering straw-gold with silvery-green hues.
The nose is remarkably fresh, elegant, and high-toned. While the 100% new oak remains present in notes of toasted brioche and vanilla bean, the primary focus shifts to vibrant aromas of lime pith, fresh white peach, and jasmine, underpinned by an intense, wet-stone minerality.
On the palate, the wine trades unctuous weight for a stunning, linear focus. It remains full-bodied, but the mid-palate feels remarkably chiseled and fluid, driven by a higher-than-usual vibrant acidity and an energetic mineral tension. Flavors of green pear, acacia honey, and ginger slice across the tongue, leading into a long, incredibly clean finish marked by a bitter-almond phenolic grip and a saline, chalky persistency.