The 2003 Guigal “La La’s” are some of most collectible wines released this year. Epic vintages are rare for the Northern Rhone. Finest vintages for the Northern Rhone include 2003, 1999, 1995, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1983, 1978, 1976, and 1969.
- Collectibility: The “Big Three” represent the pinnacle of winemaking and are the flagships of their appellation. Guigal is undisputedly one of the world’s most important producers and the La La’s are three of the most collectible wines in the world.
- Appellation/Location: Cote-Rotie in the Northern Rhone
- Varietal Blend: Syrah and Viognier (typically from 0-10%)
- Aromatic and textural profile: Fleshy, rich, fragrant, smoky, and full-bodied with notes of cassis, black raspberry, violets, bacon fat, olives and grilled meats
- Production: typically La Mouline(3.5 acres) and La Turque(2.5 acres) totals 400 cases each, and La Landonne (6.2 acres) totals 800 cases.
In 2003, La Mouline totaled 230, La Turque totaled 210, and La Landonne totaled 500 cases due to excessive heat wave.
La Mouline: 75 years
La Turque: 15 years
La Landonne: 25 years
- Terroir and Viticulture: Cote-Rotie translates as “the roasted hillside” which sits on the western bank of the Rhone with a perfectly southeasterly exposure. The two hillsides are named Cote Blonde and Cote Brune. Both are extremely steep, (gradient of 30-55 degrees) vines are terraced, and each vine is trained by Guyot method. Exposure is central to the wine profile imparting a low density of vines, and low yields.
Cote Blonde: Contains more sand, granulite, and limestone resulting in wines that are more perfumed and fragrant, round, supple, and more approachable in youth. Virtually all of the Viognier planted in Cote-Rotie is on the Cote Blonde.
Cote Brune: The northernmost slope composed of more clay and iron resulting in wines that are darker in color, noticeably tannic, and with more power and weight. Cote-Rotie’s longest lived wines.
- Vineyard notes, terroir, vinification:
La Mouline:
-Concave slopes and terraces of vines with full southerly exposition so ripens several days earlier and harvested first (can harvest in 3-4 hours).
-Fruit is from the Cote Blonde and contains 11% Viognier.
-No destemming and 42 months in new oak (Alliers and Nevers), pump-over not punch-down.
-Goal is to make it the most supple, seductive, and perfumed. Results in one of the world’s most intensely perfumed wines with aromas of bacon fat, smoke, cassis, white flowers and black olives.
La Turque:
-Convex slope so receives sunshine all day, not as steep as La Landonne
-Contains 7% Viognier.
-Synthesis of La Mouline and La Landonne. Situated in the Cote Brune but vineyard is closer to Cote Blonde than La Landonne.
-Vinification is the same as La Landonne.
-Rhone’s answer to Musigny and Richebourg.
La Landonne:
-Steep aspect with 63 degree gradient, (imagine picking fruit from the down slope of a roller coaster).
-100% Syrah from northern part of the Cote Brune so the wine is massive and intense from soils high in iron content.
-No destemming, closed tank fermentation and auto-pigeage (for fat and softness), and 42 months in new oak (Alliers and Nevers).
-Most opaque, powerful, dense, and long lived showing more smoke, anise, Asian spice, cassis and grilled meat aromas and flavors.
2003 Guigal, E - Cote-Rotie La Mouline $825 Prearrival
WA 100 Drink Date 2007-2037
The 2003 Cote Rotie La Mouline is by far the most delicate and elegant wine (11% Viognier is co-fermented with 89% Syrah), but the enormous aromatics of spring flowers intermixed with creme de cassis, black raspberry, mocha, caramel, and cola, and enormous full-bodied opulence and striking velvety, seamless texture make for one of the most memorable wines anyone could every drink. This wine should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years.
2003 Guigal, E - Cote-Rotie La Turque $825 Prearrival
WA 100 Drink Date 2009-2037
A pure aromatic smorgasbord is offered by the 2003 Cote Rotie La Turque, which has an amazing aromatic profile of espresso coffee interwoven with scorched earth, tar, truffle, incense, blackberry, bacon fat, and flowers. Powerful, thick flavors ooze across the palate with a viscous texture, amazing purity, and just enough acidity and tannin to give uplift and precision to this remarkable tour de force in winemaking. Of the 2003s, this is also approachable, but ideally 2-5 years of cellaring would be suggested, and the wine will evolve for at least 30 more years.
2003 Guigal, E - Cote-Rotie La Landonne $825 Prearrival
WA 100 Drink Date 2007-2037
Dense purple to the rim with a nose of graphite, creosote, earth, olives, and black, black, black fruits, the primordial, full-bodied, monumental 2003 Cote Rotie La Landonne is amazing stuff. I suspect this is more akin to a dry vintage port than most Cote Roties ever tend to be, but the purity, the richness, the texture, the length are all out of this world. This wine does need some patience on the part of its purchasers, probably five years, more likely 8-10, but then one of the world's most compelling elixirs will be at its peak for another 20-30+ years.
