In an article for Barron’s Penta, writer Abby Schultz dives into E. Guigal’s legacy and future with a story featuring third-generation winemaker Philippe Guigal, following an in-depth conversation and tasting. Schultz highlights E. Guigal’s renowned lineup of single-vineyard Côte-Rôtie wines, introducing La Reynarde as the highly anticipated fourth addition.
La Reynarde, a vineyard planted in 2010 and slated for its first release in 2026, adds a fresh chapter to the Guigal family story. Philippe explained the wine’s character as one of strength and elegance, aligning it with La Landonne’s power while carrying “an easy, more open approach,” saying, “It’s a very interesting balance—the terroir is amazing.” The vineyard, named in honor of Philippe’s twin sons, is as much a family symbol as it is an example of Guigal’s commitment to showcasing Côte-Rôtie’s unique terroir.
Schultz’s article also brings us closer to E. Guigal’s “La-La” wines: La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne, each distinct in profile yet unmistakably representative of Côte-Rôtie’s terroir.
- La Mouline is known for its finesse and “Burgundian” elegance, attributed to its origins in the Côte Blonde and the inclusion of 11% Viognier in its blend. Philippe noted that La Mouline is “the most Burgundian of the three,” with floral notes and a soft, layered profile.
- La Turque combines Côte Brune’s power with polish and spice. Philippe shared, “This wine has exotic, spicy notes but a polish that feels timeless.” Revived by Philippe’s father Marcel in 1985, La Turque includes 7% Viognier, contributing to its complex aromatics and velvety texture.
- La Landonne is a bold, structured wine with deep tannins and a “scorched earth” quality, crafted from whole clusters of Syrah grown on steep slopes. Philippe described it as “a big wine, with big tannins,” a striking contrast to the other wines in the lineup.
As for what drives the family’s dedication, Philippe explained: “In our family, it’s not a job, it’s a passion…We live with the winery, with the winemaking.” The family connection extends to the newest generation, as Philippe’s sons have shown interest in oenology and business from an early age, ensuring E. Guigal remains a family affair. Read the full story attached and embedded HERE
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E. Guigal
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 2020
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One of the three “LaLa” wines that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Landonne is a remarkable expression of terroir. And for good reason, La Landonne is situated on one of the steepest vineyards of the Côte Brune, a 45 degree slope that remarkably requires harvesters to start picking from the bottom of the vineyard and work their way up, placing grape bunches in bins that are set on sleds and dragged up the hill. Along with its position at the northern end of the Côte Brune and the fact it is the last vineyard to ripen, La Landonne is the mirror of the feminine and voluptuous La Mouline: it is a wine of driving power, defined by its dark fruit and structure. The first vintage Guigal produced was in 1978, after being planted in 1975 at the time of Philippe Guigal’s birth.
E. Guigal
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2020
Côte-Rôtie
First planted by the Romans 2,500 years ago, La Mouline is the oldest and most famous vineyard of Cote-Rotie, and Guigal's single vineyard bottling of La Mouline in the 1960s set off a quality revolution throughout the Rhone Valley. The stunning amphitheater is the most complex plot in Cote-Rotie due to its extremely steep slopes with expositions in every direction. Of the three famous “LaLas” that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Mouline was the first and is the only one on the Cote Blonde, and its signature is an unbelievable exoticism, an irresistibly and unique lifted floral , black fruit, earthy, spicy perfume, its coiled power always in balance, seemingly endless.
E. Guigal
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque 2020
Côte-Rôtie
La Turque is Guigal's most recent addition to the single-vineyard Cru Côte-Rôties, coming over as part of their purchase of the Vidal-Fleury firm in 1980. La Turque had produced outstanding wines in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but had not been used for wine production for nearly 50 years. The Guigals acquired the vineyard and re-planted it in 1980 and 1981, based on Etienne Guigal's memory of the quality of the wines it produced during his tenure at Vidal-Fleury. The first vintage was the magnificent 1985. In both position and style, it sits between La Mouline and La Landonne: the complex soils lend an exotic character to La Turque, and its concentration and elegance exhibit the virility of the Côte Brune with the subtlety and femininity of the Côte Blonde.
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E. Guigal
Rhône Valley, France
The more you learn about the Guigal family, the more astounding becomes their story. Their wines are the benchmarks for every Rhône appellation, and over the last thirty years they have become arguably the most lauded producer in the world. Year after year the Guigal family produces wines of exceptional quality that in all classes offer exceptional value.