Guigal is the most famous produer in Côte Rôtie and one of the finest in the Rhône Valley. It was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal, following his departure from Vidal-Fleury, where he had worked for just under twenty years. His son, Marcel, joined the company in 1961 and is now the head of the company.
Guigal pioneered the notion of single vineyard Côte Rôties and his 3 most famous wines, La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque are amongst the most sought after wines in the world today.
Marcel Guigal’s attitude to winemaking is typical of the simple genius that one seems to stumble upon when looking at any of the world’s greatest winemakers – low yields, organic viticulture and little or no intervention in the cellars – in short, a respect for nature and a passion for the wine itself.
95 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Slightly more rustic, with high, yet sweet, tannin, the 2006 Cote Rotie la Mouline offers notions of toasted spice, licorice, dried flowers, rendered bacon fat and red currants to go with a full-bodied, nicely textured and concentrated feel on the palate. There’s a lot of tannin here and I’m curious to see how this evolves over the coming decade.
95 Points Wine Spectator
Really perfumy and alluring, with espresso, sandalwood and black tea notes all mingling together, while velvety crushed plum, fig and blackberry fruit glides in behind them. Hints of mesquite and iron play out on the well-integrated finish. Accessible, but will cellar easily too.
96 Points Vinous
Vivid red. Black raspberry, blood orange and Asian spices on the expressive, hypnotically perfumed nose. Juicy, focused and floral, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors, a strong note of floral pastilles and a firm mineral underpinning. Finishes with superb focus and length, showing remarkable freshness and lingering minerality.