I was invited by Wine Affair to taste the latest vintage of Guigal´s La-La wines - always a treat! The food at Copine was also a treat.
2023 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Blanc, Guigal
A large scaled, gorgeous nose with notes of ripe flowers, peaches and lavender honey. Very deep.
The taste is concentrated and rich with sweet yellow fruit, a fine balance and a long, lingering finish. A very fine wine but a tad low in acidity for my palate. Already released.
92p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Hermitage, Guigal
No Ex Voto in 2021 so those grapes have gone in this wine. And what a wine! The nose is deep and peppery with notes of blackberries, dried meat, undergrowth and leather.
The taste is structured and inky with taut yet silky tannins, gorgeous black fruit and a long, peppery finish. 6+ years. Will be released 31/10.
94p (tasted 2025/09)
2022 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Rouge, Guigal
A deep, laid back nose with notes of dried flowers, violets, red bell pepper and chocolate biscuits.
The taste is warm and structured with violets en masse and additional notes of bakelite, pepper and dried flowers. Already released.
91p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l`Hospice, Guigal
A lovely, meaty nose with notes of geranium, blackberries, red beets and mahogany. Very fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of blackberries, tobacco, leather and undergrowth. Very long. 6+ years. Released on the 19th of September.
93p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Côte-Rôtie Château d´Ampuis, Guigal
A deep, smoky nose with notes of ink, blackberries, leather and fir wood. Lovely.
The taste is balanced and refined with a very fine black fruit with a hint of green in it, a low keyed structure and a long poised finish. 5+ years. Released on the 19th of September.
93p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, Guigal
A very handsome, refined nose with notes of assorted red fruits, chrushed rocks, some flowery elements and violets. Rather low keyed but very fine.
The taste is cool and nicelyy structured with notes of ripening blueberries, damsons and a fine white pepper note. All La-La´s will be released on the 30/10.
94p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Côte-Rôtie La Turque, Guigal
I usually have la Mouline as my favourite when the three La-La´s are in front of me, but for the 2021 vintage La Turque is the shining star IMHO. The nose is dark and dense with gorgeous notes of cured meat, black flowers, scorched earth and a hint of dark chocolate.
The taste is tight and inky with a cornucopia of black fruit, taut tannins and a minute long, layered finish. Great wine. 8+ years.
96p (tasted 2025/09)
2021 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, Guigal
The La Landonne is, as usual, more backward and towering, with notes of dried blueberries, bakelite, sun warm rocks and a hint of toothpaste.
The taste is rich, stern and structured with lots of ripening black fruit, broad shouldered tannins and a long, tight finish. 10+ years.
94p (tasted 2025/09)
1994 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, Guigal
Claes was ever so kind to bring two extra bottles. The 31 one year old La Landonne is a testament of Guigal´s ability to make great wines even in challenging year. The nose is round and mature with notes of dried flowers, dried up raspberry jam, cigarr smoke and forest floor. Very, very good.
The taste is medium bodied and dry with notes of tobacco, dried red fruit and a silky finish. Maybe a tad to dry on the finish but there is a fine warmth there.
Tasted 12 years ago - Barolista: Oh La La - Nine Vintages of La Landonne, Guigal - and then I thought it to be fully mature. These wines keeps.
90p (tasted 2025/09)
2013 Hermitage Ex Voto, Guigal
The -13 Ex Voto is a beauty. The nose soars from the glass with notes of tobacco, ripe damsons, peppered meat and fresh stables. Very fine.
The taste is high and fine with lovely sweet fruit, silky tannins and a long, lingering finish. Very elegant. Hints of maturity but this will go on for 10+ years.
94p (tasted 2025/09)