E. Guigal Cote-Rotie " La La La" Trio

2019

La Landonne

Wine Advocate 98-100: The impenetrably dark 2019 Cote Rotie La Landonne represents the essence of this fabled lieu-dit, combining peppery, herbal notions with espresso and roasted meat, all carried by ample plum and black cherry fruit. It's full-bodied, concentrated, richly tannic and long on the finish—simply a superb wine that should be flirting with perfection when it is released in a couple of years.

James Suckling 97: Still very youthful, this has a deep nose of smoke, bitter chocolate and herbal liqueur. The gigantic tannin structure on the palate will need many years of further aging to completely resolve, but the tannins are fine which gives the super-long finish an extraordinary texture, like old-fashioned velvet. So much smoke and crushed rock character! A pure syrah which is then fermented with 100% whole bunches. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drinkable now, but best from 2026, and even then you should decant it.

Decanter 97: Dark, opaque colour. This has that closed, dark austerity you would expect. Gently sweet with a touch of Lapsang Souchong tea in the background - this is full-bodied with very silky tannins. It's extracted, but not over-extracted, with good tannic weight and depth. Powerful, driving, not overly rich or ripe or alcoholic. Oak at this stage appears integrated. A very good vintage, very sleek, a thoroughbred steed. From the northern part of this lieu-dit, planted in 1975 to commemorate the birth of Philippe Guigal. At the beginning of its 42 months in new French oak barriques.

Wine Spectator 97: Firing on all cylinders, this simmers with massive power and range. Boasts a dark, brooding core of black plum, fig paste, strappy black licorice and fruitcake flavors supported by a formidable iron spine. Chewy in feel, with grilled aniseed and warm mesquite smoke adding salty sweetness. Though its tannins are mellowing, this still has a lifetime ahead in the cellar. A showstopper. Best from 2025 through 2040.

La Mouline

Wine Advocate 94-96: While just as aromatic and charming on the nose—where ephemeral floral notes join ripe cherries—as previous years, the 2019 Cote Rotie La Mouline isn't quite as impressive on the palate. It's medium to full-bodied, silky and caressing, without the same power, yet it's supremely elegant.

James Suckling 97: Great nose of summer flowers and ripe blackberries with a glaze of toasty oak. A very graceful wine in spite of all the power and concentration. Feels almost weightless until you get to the finish where you feel the enormous structure that lurks just below the surface. A cuvee of 89% syrah and 11% viognier. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drink or hold.

Decanter 94: A little closed, not as open as you would expect at this stage. Medium-bodied, fresher on the palate than the nose, with a good sense of purity and salinity. Massy, ripe tannins and a long finish. Not quite as sprightly and perfumed at this stage as previous recent vintages of La Mouline, but clearly a very good wine. At the beginning of its 42 months in new French oak barriques.

La Turque

Wine Advocate 98-100: The extroverted 2019 Cote Rotie La Turque is about as impressive a young wine as I've tasted at Guigal, with extravagant, blossom-like aromas and oodles of cassis and blueberries. Full-bodied, it's simultaneously concentrated and rich yet airy and almost weightless, an outrageous juxtaposition of characters that must be tasted to be understood.

James Suckling 98: From the haunting nose through to the end of the extremely long finish this wine embodies the rocky personality of Cote-Rotie, along with the special ripeness that the syrah achieves here. As floral as it is stony, as structured as it is concentrated, yet all of this builds an imposing and enchanting whole. A cuvee of 93% syrah and 7% viognier. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

Decanter 97: A big step up in quality from La Mouline this year, it’s deeply savoury with smoked meats on the nose at this stage. Full-bodied but not excessive, this is round and generous with tannins that are massy and ripe. The oak is robust and well judged and it ends very deep with a powerful, but lifted, saline finish. Great depth on show, very fine, it's big but not excessive. On the Côte-Brune, planted by Marcel Guigal in 1980 (first vintage 1985) after having been abandoned since 1935. La Turque is a central part of Côte Brune, less than one hectare. At the beginning of its 42 months in new French oak barriques.

2020

La Landonne

Wine Advocate 98-100: The undisputed star of the cellar this vintage (at least at this stage), the 2020 Cote Rotie La Landonne is not only unbelievably complex on the nose—with an awesome stew of vegetal-herbal nuances blended with cassis and smoked meat—but full-bodied, concentrated, velvety-textured and remarkably long and tannic. Patience will be required.

James Suckling 99: This is ample, stunning and concentrated, with impressive energy. Dark berries, grilled herbs, stones, leather, undergrowth and loads of baking spices. Full-bodied with fine, sinewy tannins. There is a solid frame of tannins bringing a serious character on the palate. Dense, dark core of blackberries and spices funneling through the palate. Highly textured with incredible drive. Focused and shaped for aging. Try from 2028.

Vinous 97: The smashing 2019 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne unfurls with boatloads of graphite, a core of ripe black fruits, menthol, wood smoke, crushed violets and a splash of espresso. Dense, bold and sexy, the 2019 is an alluring La Landonne of pedigree and class. Its massive tannic structure requires at least ten additional years in bottle. After that, this full-bodied elixir will shine brightly for a long time.

La Mouline

Wine Advocate 93-95: Dominated by dark notes of espresso, black olive and pumpernickel, the 2020 Cote Rotie La Mouline was missing the vineyard's normally expressive floral aromas on this occasion. Full-bodied and rich, it's an atypically muscular and closed vintage of La Mouline right now. It will be interesting to see how it evolves over the next few years of élevage.

James Suckling 98: Such a concentrated, focused yet bright La Mouline for the vintage. The nose reveals aromas of blackberries, dark plums, violets, undergrowth and black pepper. It's full-bodied with very fine tannins. It's ample, dense and yet so refined. The power is all under control, with the velvety, voluptuous core of dark cherries and berries mingling through the spices in harmony. The refined tannins guide the mid-palate onto a textural, long finish. Try after 2026.

Decanter 95: Sticky damson and plum fruit, just a little touch of prune in the mix. Medium-bodied with fresh, fine tannins; quite an ethereal style of La Mouline, with floral hints and plentiful spicy oak among the roses. A compact style of wine for the vintage that suits what this vineyard delivers - good expression of terroir. I would drink this young, though it will no doubt age fairly well. From lieu-dit Côte Blonde and at the beginning of its 40 months in new French oak barriques.

La Turque

Wine Advocate 94-96: Notes of espresso and barrel char ride above notes of purple raspberries in the 2020 Cote Rotie La Turque. It's full-bodied, with ample concentration and length, but it seems to lack a bit of depth compared to other recent vintages. Let's see what next year brings.

James Suckling 98: The nose is like what you smell when you enter a spice market in the Far East. Great concentration and underplayed power on the full-bodied palate, but also graceful, the generous dose of toasty oak almost perfectly integrated. Extremely long finish that keeps on pumping out the berry fruit, butter, orange and stone character. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.

Vinous 97-100: The potentially perfect 2020 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne is riveting. Bringing together all the finest elements of the Guigal house style, it explodes from the glass with smoky blackberry jam, menthol, crushed rocks, cured meat, iodine, licorice, cloves and black olive tapenade. Charged with a massive tannic core, this concentrated powerhouse dazzles with off-the-charts intensity yet total clarity and focus. Built like a skyscraper, the 2020 will surely be a long-distance runner.

Decanter 96: This feels like a classic, with the weight and tannins necessary to help this age, but it's not as massive as some recent vintages. Star anise, cinnamon and nutmeg - very much about the spice this year - this is bold and sweetly fruited, with juicy, pliable tannins and a long finish. Vines are on the Côte Brune, planted by Marcel Guigal in 1980 (first vintage 1985) after being abandoned since 1935. La Turque is a central part of Côte Brune, less than 1ha. This is only at the beginning of its 40 months in new French oak barriques.