E. Guigal Cote Rotie 'La Mouline' 2019

This iconic single-vineyard dry red wine originates from France, produced in the prestigious Côte-Rôtie appellation of the Northern Rhône Valley. E. Guigal, founded in 1946 by Étienne Guigal and elevated to global legend by Marcel and Philippe Guigal, is world-famous for its trio of single-vineyard Côte-Rôtie bottlings known affectionately as the "La La's" (La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne). La Mouline is sourced from a tiny 1-hectare amphitheater-like parcel within the Côte Blonde sub-zone, characterized by light-colored, gneiss-rich soils. First produced in 1966, La Mouline contains the highest proportion of Viognier among the trio, giving it an unmistakable floral elegance, velvety texture, and sensual perfume that set the benchmark for modern Northern Rhône Syrah.

Wine Description

In the glass, the 2019 vintage presents a deep, luminous ruby-purple color with intense clarity. The explosive nose is an intoxicating amalgam of dark and red berries—crème de cassis, wild blackberry, and black raspberry—fused with soaring aromatics of dried violets, honeysuckle, acacia blossom, cured meats, black olive tapenade, bacon fat, and sweet cedar oak spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, hedonistic, and incredibly polished, demonstrating an opulent, silky texture that coats the mouth without feeling heavy. The notable inclusion of Viognier softens the structural frame, weaving fine-grained, cashmere-like tannins alongside a vibrant streak of natural acidity. Crafted from approximately 89% Syrah co-fermented with 11% Viognier from old vines (up to 75+ years old), the hand-harvested grapes undergo long temperature-controlled fermentation before Guigal’s signature, extended maturation of 42 months in 100% new French oak barrels crafted in their own cooperage at Château d'Ampuis. The alcohol by volume sits at 14.5%.

Food Pairing

The opulent texture, complex floral aromatics, and rich fruit depth of this legendary single-vineyard red call for top-tier culinary creations. Exceptional pairings include pan-seared duck breast with cherry or blackberry reduction, roasted rack of lamb with herbs, slow-braised venison loin, roasted squab, and dry-aged prime ribeye steak. It also pairs spectacularly with truffled poultry, wild mushroom risotto, and mature artisanal cheeses such as Saint-Marcellin, Époisses, or aged Comté.

Vintage Quality

The 2019 vintage across the Northern Rhône is widely acclaimed as a generational masterpiece, marked by warm, sunny summer weather that produced exceptional fruit concentration, ripe skin tannins, and towering structural balance. Thanks to the ancient vines and deep root systems of La Mouline, the grapes achieved complete phenolic maturity while retaining remarkable aromatic lift. The 2019 E. Guigal La Mouline is a monumental bottling—intensely aromatic and approachable after decanting in its youth due to its velvety core, yet possessing the concentration and structural depth to evolve gracefully in proper cellars for 30 to 40+ years.

Accolades

• 100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

  The 2019 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is a bigger, richer Côte Rôtie. Co-fermented with a solid chuck of Viognier and around 85% destemmed (the same as the La Turque), this full-bodied effort has a kaleidoscope-like bouquet of bloody black and blue fruits, tapenade, salted meat, woodsmoke, and a touch of violets. This cuvée is always an exotic wine, and the 2019 is no exception, offering full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, plenty of structure, and a great finish.
  Barrel Sample: 97-100

• 97 Points - James Suckling

  Great nose of summer flowers and ripe blackberries with a glaze of toasty oak. A very graceful wine in spite of all the power and concentration. Feels almost weightless until you get to the finish where you feel the enormous structure that lurks just below the surface. A cuvee of 89% syrah and 11% viognier. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drink or hold.

• 97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The 2019 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline is textural and concentrated, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, spices, pepper, gentian and cedar, all framed by a delicate touch of oak. Full-bodied, broad and creamy, it’s enveloping and layered, built around a fleshy, deep core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, perfumed and gently ethereal finish. This is a beautiful rendition of this emblematic cuvée.