Name: 2018 E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline - 750 ml
Brand: E. Guigal
SKU: 100160-750-AI
Price: 439 USD
Availability: InStock

2018 E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline

98-100 RP

Qty:

From the critics:

97-100 JD

96-98 VM

Featured Review

Like the 2017, Guigal's 2018 Cote Rotie La Mouline boasts incredible aromatics, with highs ranging from violets and peppery spice to ripe blueberries and raspberries. The oak is in the background, supporting the supple fruit. Full-bodied, lush and silky, La Mouline seems to have it all in 2018. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 98-100 RP

Like the 2017, Guigal’s 2018 Cote Rotie La Mouline boasts incredible aromatics, with highs ranging from violets and peppery spice to ripe blueberries and raspberries. The oak is in the background, supporting the supple fruit. Full-bodied, lush and silky, La Mouline seems to have it all in 2018.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98-100 RP

Scheduled to be bottled early in 2022, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is a blockbuster of a wine offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of black raspberries, cassis, spring flowers, espresso, and violets. Coming from a steep, terraced, warmer terroir and fermented with 10% Viognier, it’s always the sexiest, more exotic, and seamless, as well as approachable, of the flagship releases. The 2018 will unquestionably pure a smile on your face as soon as it’s released, but it will ideally be given 7-8 years of bottle age and drunk over the following 30+ years.

Jeb Dunnuck | 97-100 JD

Expansive aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, potpourri, incense and smoky minerals pick up an exotic nuance as the wine opens up. Broad and seamless on the palate, displaying sharp delineation to the sappy, mineral-inflected black raspberry, boysenberry, candied violet and spicecake flavors. Shows a distinctly suave character and finishes extremely long and appealingly sweet, with discreet tannins framing lingering blue fruit liqueur and floral notes.

Vinous Media | 96-98 VM

Type of Wine	Cote Rotie : The Cote-Rotie will have you feeling a distinct blend of smoked meat flavors and floral notes that bring it all to life, like a colorful salad in a feast. Expect to be greeted by subtle yet delicious hints of leather, plum, white pepper or black pepper as well, depending on the individual bottle.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Rhone : While the Northern Rhone produces only about 5% of all wine coming out of the Rhone Valley, the quality of these bottles is not to be underestimated. The terroir in this region is heavenly for growing Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne or Rousanne - the only permitted grapes in the AOC. Picture this - the Rhone flows through the valley like an azure thread piercing the landscape, a reflection of the dreamy skies hovering above the vineyards, ready to produce rainfall at a moment's notice. The rocky soil of the steep, almost surreal hillsides provides a bountiful feast for the grapevine roots. The flavors and texture of Northern Rhone wines tell you everything you need to know as soon as your lips touch the elixir, like a whisper in the vigorous valley winds As per the Southern Rhone wine, it is like taking a plunge into a whirlpool of juicy flavor. Every sip explodes forward like a crashing tsunami, bathing your tastebuds in delicious aromas of prune, chocolate, grass, and black fruit. The wines are so compelling that it can be hard to drink them casually at a social event without getting lost in their intricate textures and emotional depths. Let's set sail together, and drink deep from these luxurious bottles with our friends and loved ones.
Subregion	Northern Rhone
Appellation	Cote Rotie
Climat/Vineyard	La Mouline

Producer	E. Guigal : With perhaps more 100 point professional ratings than any other producer in the world of wine, the impact and influence of the Guigal family across the Rhone Valley is incredulous. The offerings from this superb producer are so impressive that it is never a surprise when a new vintage is released and receives high ratings, high praise and along with it a high level of pursuit by collectors and enthusiasts. His wines have become the benchmarks for the Rhone appellation and over the past thirty years Guigal has become arguably the most lauded producer in the world. Year after year wines of exceptional quality come to fruition through unparalleled work ethic and dedication to excellence that has allowed Guigal wines to rise to the pinnacle of the wine world. This amazing story begins in the early 1930’s when Etienne Guigal moved to Ampuis and secured a job in the vineyards of the largest winery in the Rhone. Over the course of 15 years he elevated his position from pruning vines to cellar master. In 1946 he left to start his own firm, E. Guigal; the inception of what would become one of the most influential and successful firms in the world. In 1961 Etienne was struck with total blindness and his son Marcel returned home to help oversee operations of the family business. Marcel has led the firm ever since and his tremendous work ethic and dedication to quality have lifted the Guigal wines to the status that they remain today. Marcel’s efforts were highly recognized and lauded, bringing attention to Cote-Rotie and other appellations throughout the Rhone. Today, Marcel’s son Philippe serves as Director and Oenologist at Guigal and with his father, carries on the tradition of leadership in the Rhone Valley and of uncompromising excellence. The family has purchased only the vineyards that are capable of producing truly great wines. They own 150 acres in Northern Rhone, and overwhelmingly the finest collection of vineyards in Cote-Rotie. The carefully selected sites serve as the source for their estate-bottled wines and the foundation for their wine portfolio. The parcels include in addition to Cote-Rotie; Condrieu, Saint Joseph, four plots in Hermitage and some of the finest in Crozes-Hermitage. The Guigal family is undeterred by the task it must perform on the steeply sloped, terraced vineyards and work tirelessly to tend to their precious vines that have long been vital to the success of the estate. They hold a firm belief in the soils, expositions and meso-climates of each site and methodically re-build vineyards today that won’t be planted for years to come due to their commitment to the long-term success of Guigal wines. Guigal produces a slew of wines from many different Rhone varietals including Syrah and Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. Cote-Rotie, Condrieu, Saint Joseph, Hermitage, and Crozes-Hermitage all hail from Northern Rhone. They have expanded their reach to Southern Rhone and have developed a list of Chateauneuf-Du-Papes and Cotes-Du-Rhone complimenting the Guigal portfolio. Every wine serves as a testament to the diligent winemaking skills of the family, but three mythical wines have risen to a standard that is surpassed by no other – The “La La’s” as they are so fondly recognized. Guigal’s single vineyard Syrah of La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne have gained traction on the wine market for their quality, prestige and constant 100-point ratings. They have risen to elite status and are highly coveted by many. La Mouline and La Turque enjoy the title of Monopole, while La Landonne is merely a single vineyard and though it is a small plot is shared with a neighboring producer. Only 4,000 bottles of La Turque are bottled annually, so that gives an idea of the exclusivity of these exquisite and important components to the range of wines Guigal has to offer. Guigal wines are sexy, exotic and demand the attention of serious wine collectors. It would be difficult to define the quality and characteristics of each Guigal wine; however, they come with a guarantee to please, with a taste for any palate. This firm has risen to fame in a relatively short period of time, but over the span of three generations, nothing short of brilliance is exemplified in each bottling.