Guigal Cote-Rotie ‘La Mouline’ 2013

Maker: The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis; a small, ancient village at the heart of the Côte-Rôtie appellation. It is overlooked by unique vineyards where vines and wine have been celebrated for over 2,400 years. Following his arrival in 1924 at the age of 14, the founder went on to make wine for 67 vintages in the Côte-Rôtie and, at the beginning of his career, took part in the development of the Vidal-Fleury establishment (Vidal-Fleury is the longest continuously operating winery and négociant in the Rhone Valley founded in 1781). Ampuis lies to the south of Lyon at the very heart of the Côte-Rôtie appellation. Here, on the stark and steep terrain formed by the Rhône River cultivated in terraces since ancient times, the Guigal family works the greatest appellations of the Rhône Valley with both passion and perseverance. Today, the domain is made up of numerous exceptional vineyards: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage… Outstanding plots producing prestigious wines which showcase the excellence of this domain. In 1961, a still very young Marcel Guigal took over management of the domain when his father was struck by temporary but total blindness. He was joined in 1973 by his wife, Bernadette and they worked hand-in-hand to expand the family business. In 1975, their son Philippe was born and today he is the domain’s oenologist. Together with his wife, Eve, he represents the third generation and continues the family’s lifetime endeavour to be at the service of the greatest wines of the Rhône valley. Vineyard: Planted on slopes by the Romans 24 centuries ago, this illustrious vineyard is made up of the Côte Brune, upstream of the Reynard and the Côte Blonde which is downstream. The vineyard features terraced vines reminiscent of a Roman amphitheater, growing on gneis soil with lightly colored silicone and limestone loess. Planted almost exclusively with Syrah, the Côte Brune produces a powerful, intense wine. Thanks to a dash of Viognier which compliments the Syrah, the Côte Blonde is more subtle. There is a charming legend attached to this appellation and the Château d’Ampuis: “the sire of this place had two daughters, one with hair as dark as the night and the other blonde like a field of wheat. When they got married he endowed each with two of his best slopes. This is how we inherited the Côte Brune and the Côte Blonde.” Winestyle/Cuvee: Predominantly composed of 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier, the vines boast an average age of approximately 75 years. Winemaking occurs in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks with traditional pumping over, followed by a four-week long maceration including primary fermentation. A long maturation period of 42 months in new oak barrels. Despite the challenging conditions, the vineyard maintains an average yield of 35 Hl per hectare, showcasing the dedication to quality and excellence in viticulture. Tasting Note: Nose – Red Berries, Dried Flowers, Grilled Raisin Toast Small red fruits, blackberry and floral violet aromas. Intensely aromatic, powerful but full of finesse. Palate – Supple, Rich, Expressive of Terroir Supple with balance between the finesse of the aromas and an explosive richness due to the concentration of the wine. Greatly expressive of the terroir. Finish – Silky, Intensely Aromatic, Sweeping Tannins A feminine wine with voluptuous silky texture and intense aromas. An array of sweet-smelling spices and a green-ish pepper edge to the nose with plenty of dark plums, crushed dark violety florals and grilled raisin toast. The palate has smooth, sweeping tannins that build in waves of pastry-like, plush and velvety texture. Long blood plum and creamy espresso finish. – James Suckling, 97 Points. Bright purple. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet of fresh black and blue fruit, candied licorice and Asian spice scents develops a sexy floral note as the wine opens up. Vibrant and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering intense, smoke-tinged black currant, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a refreshing snap of juicy acidity. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes extremely long and gently tannic, leaving a sappy blue fruit note behind. – Josh Raynolds, 96 Points. Very ripe, with layers of fig, boysenberry and plum compote forming the core, inlaid liberally with licorice snap, roasted apple wood and Turkish coffee notes. Shows lots of heft, but everything pulls together on the finish, exhibiting drive and definition. Collectible – James Molesworth, 96 Points. The Finer Details Style –