E. Guigal

Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2019

Côte-Rôtie

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La Mouline is historically the oldest vineyard site in Cote-Rotie, with walls dating back 2,400 years. Today its vines are also the oldest in the region, averaging 90 years of age, with the oldest dating back to plantings in the 1890s, from the first plantings after phylloxera. Acquired in 1963 from the Dervieux family, La Mouline was Guigal’s first single-vineyard Côte-Rôtie, and the inaugural vintage was 1966. This 1-HA vineyard is located on the lighter soils of the Cote Blonde, and is planted to about 11% Viognier, aspects that give La Mouline its telltale aromatic complexity and additional softness and roundness; it is often called the most feminine of Guigal’s Côte-Rôties.

VINEYARD

The steeply terraced amphitheater of La Mouline is not only visually impressive, but lends a variety of expositions and, importantly, both shelters the 2.5 acre site from the wind and acts as a heat trap. The gneiss bedrock has soils of lightly colored silicone containing limestone loess.

The site is planted mostly with Syrah in addition to some Viognier, with the two varieties picked together and co-fermented. The 2019 vintage is 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier.

WINEMAKING

Fermentation for this wine takes place in stainless steel vats. The wine sees traditional pump overs, with fermentation and maceration that lasts about 4 weeks.

It is then aged for 42 months in new oak barrels made at the Chateau d’Ampuis cooperage.

VINTAGE

2019 is the latest in an unprecedented string of magnificent vintages in the Northern Rhône Valley, with extremely high quality in all appellations and at all levels. It stands out amongst a remarkable sequence of exceptional vintages here, a run that spans the years 2015 through 2020 (with the frost-shattered 2021 also likely to be superb, what there is of it), and the 2022 already promising to be excellent. Following the intense but also charming 2017s, and the forceful and forward 2018s, the 2019 reds are once again powerful wines with deep, healthy colors and pinpoint balance. Acidity levels and tannin content are both higher in this vintage than in the two prior, framing the 2019s as a hypothetical cross between the classic 2016s and the rich, forward 2018s. Yields were impacted by hail in some appellations, but outside of Crozes-Hermitage the damage was slight, and 2019 overall was a vintage of average size. The intensely concentrated fruit, framed by healthy acidity and deep, ripe tannins is perfectly suited to Guigal’s method of extended élèvage, and the 2019s should prove to be among the longest-lived vintages in recent memory.

TASTING NOTE

To the eye, the wine is ruby red The nose is presented with small red fruits, blackberry and floral violet aromas that are intensely aromatic, powerful yet full of finesse. The palate is supple, with divine balance between the finesse of the aromas and an explosive richness due to the concentration of the wine. Greatly expressive of the terroir, the wine presents itself as feminine with voluptuous silky texture and intense aromas.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Syrah, Viognier

Appellation

Côte-Rôtie

Farming

Guigal uses only environmentally sustainable methods of pest, disease and weed control. They work to conserve biological diversity, water resources, soils and ecosystems on their land. Packaging materials are recyclable or biodegradable. Lastly, they are committed to achieving a zero waste target.

Alcohol

14.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$700

Reviews

"Enormous Structure"

James Suckling - May 25, 2023 "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."- S.P 5/23

"Always an exotic wine"

Jeb Dunnuck (97-100) - June 14, 2023 "The 2019 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is a bigger, richer Côte Rôtie. Co-fermented with a solid chuck of Viognier and around 85% destemmed (the same as the La Turque), this full-bodied effort has a kaleidoscope-like bouquet of bloody black and blue fruits, tapenade, salted meat, woodsmoke, and a touch of violets. This cuvée is always an exotic wine, and the 2019 is no exception, offering full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, plenty of structure, and a great finish."- J.D 12/22

"Supremely elegant"

Jeb Dunnuck (94-96) - June 14, 2023 "Aromatic and charming on the nose—where ephemeral floral notes join ripe cherries—[...] It's medium to full-bodied, silky and caressing, without the same power, yet it's supremely elegant."- J.C 2/22

Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

Côtes du Rhône Rouge

Given that this particular wine can be the introduction to the entire Rhône Valley for a drinker, as well as the position they occupy in the Rhône, it is not enough for the Guigals to make a good Côtes du Rhône. They are relentlessly driven to produce a distinctive and outstanding wine that drives interest in exploring the entirety of the Rhône.

Côtes du Rhône Blanc

Guigal’s Côtes du Rhône Blanc both sets and steps outside the standard for the appellation and showcases one of the great secrets of the Guigal family: their specialization in the great white Rhône varieties. While only 8% of the Rhône's production is white, a full 25% of Guigal’s production is white and they are today the single largest producer of whites in the Rhône Valley.

Côtes du Rhône Rosé

The Guigal family has made serious dry rosé wines since the 1940s, and their Côtes du Rhône Rosé, like all their Côtes du Rhône wines, is humble in name only. The wine bursts with irresistible fresh red fruits and yet is also serious and satisfying. While this Rosé is always a lovely aperitif, its intensity and richness make it perfect for the table, and it pairs well with all manner of cuisines. And starting with the 2020 vintage, the wine has a stunning new proprietary bottle: a subtle enhancement for an already elegant wine!

Saint Joseph Vignes de l’Hospice

Saint-Joseph

Guigal’s Vignes de l’Hospice is one of the finest sites in the Northern Rhone Valley. This steeply terraced vineyard used to be divided into three, but Guigal now owns majority of this parcel in order to restore perception of Saint-Joseph as an appellation of utmost quality. In fact, Guigal is often asked when they will produce a fourth “LaLa,” and their response is that their fourth single vineyard phenomenon of the Northern Rhone is already being produced: the Vignes de l’Hospice.

Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Rouge

Saint-Joseph

A result of its quality, Guigal’s Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Rouge comes from the “Saint-Joseph” vineyard that gives the appellation its name. This site convinced the Guigals to work in Saint-Joseph and help to restore the historic perception of Saint-Joseph as an appellation of utmost quality. The 100% Syrah wine has complex and deep black fruit, floral, spice and mineral characteristics. Despite its concentration and powerful attack, the wine retains the trademark elegance that Saint-Joseph offers.

Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Blanc

Saint-Joseph

A result of its quality, Guigal’s Saint-Joseph Blanc Lieu Dit comes from the “Saint-Joseph” vineyard that gives the appellation its name. This site convinced the Guigals to work in Saint-Joseph and help to restore the historic perception of Saint-Joseph as an appellation of utmost quality. Saint-Joseph Blanc is a serious wine, with weight and complexity, and is deeply reflective of its vineyard sites. A seamless balance of freshness and fruitiness, pleasure and interest, and flavors and structure. Guigal’s specialty in whites is especially evident in this wine, as it is almost a deceptively serious wine.

Ermitage Ex Voto Blanc

Hermitage

Ermitage Ex-Voto represents the fulfillment of a longtime dream of Marcel Guigal’s to own vineyard land on the hill of Hermitage. Through the purchase of the de Vallouit and J. L. Grippat domaines in 2000, Guigal acquired four exceptional vineyard parcels on this legendary site. The 2001 vintage was the first release of this estate-bottled Hermitage red and white. The quality of the intense old-vine fruit is quite special, but given the Guigal’s already strong work in Hermitage, they decided to only release an Ex-Voto red or white when the wine is utterly exceptional and clearly superior to their appellation bottlings.

Ermitage Ex Voto Rouge

Hermitage

Ermitage Ex-Voto represents the fulfillment of a longtime dream of Marcel Guigal’s to own vineyard land on the hill of Hermitage. Through the purchase of the de Vallouit and J. L. Grippat domaines in 2000, Guigal acquired four exceptional vineyard parcels on this legendary site. The 2001 vintage was the first release of this estate-bottled Hermitage red and white. The quality of the intense old-vine fruit is quite special, but given the Guigal’s already strong work in Hermitage, they decided to only release an Ex-Voto red or white when the wine is utterly exceptional and clearly superior to their appellation bottlings.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Guigal produces an intensely concentrated, inviting and complex Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is almost unique to the region today. Their passion for Châteauneuf, the leading appellation of the Southern Rhône, runs as deeply as that for their home sites in the Northern Rhône. The combination of working with top fruit that has perfect ripeness, along with their extraordinary patience in the cellar, results in rich and full, yet savory, spicy, seamless and balanced wines. Wines to enjoy immediately but capable of aging, and, above all, wines that leave you wanting more.

Condrieu La Doriane

Condrieu

La Doriane is a luxury cuvée of Condrieu that the Guigals have produced since the 1994 vintage. A great success since the first vintage, the wine always seems richly oaked and very fruity when young, transforming in 3-4 years into a seamlessly complex, aromatic and vibrant wine. La Doriane contradicts the accepted wisdom that Condrieu does not age well.