The 2024 Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience concluded with a grand finale seminar with E. Guigal third-generation winemaker Philippe Guigal, highlighting his iconic “La La” wines and the world premiere reveal of the new La Reynarde cuvée!
The conversation between Wine Spectator Senior Editor Kristen Bieler and Philippe flowed beautifully. They provided the audience with context on the three La La wines, which come from vertiginous vineyards in Côte-Rotie, noting that the Guigals only rarely add a new cuvée to the lineup – when the family acquires or plants a distinctive new vineyard site. The first La La is La Mouline, which debuted with the 1966 vintage. La Landonne arrived with the 1978 vintage, and its source is a vineyard planted to celebrate Philippe Guigal’s birth. La Turque was launched with the 1985 vintage. And attendees were in for a special treat at what they learned next…
Bieler reported, a fourth La LA – La Reynarde – is on its way. “Named after the stream running between the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde lieux-dits, its vineyard (on the Brune side) was planted in stages starting in 2010 to commemorate the birth of Guigal’s twin sons. The wine won’t debut until 2026, with the 2022 vintage, which is when all the plantings had reached maturity. But, in a singular moment, Guigal treated the Wine Experience audience to a preview of La Reynarde from the 2020 vintage, alongside the three other wines.” This was a historical moment for everyone in the room!
Read the full story HERE to see in depth tasting notes of La Mouline 2020 (96pts), La Turque 2020 (96pts), the seminar exclusive La Reynarde 2020, and La Landonne 2020(97pts).
Kristen closed the piece noting “the foremost element of the La Las is a sense of place. Tasting this preview of La Reynarde was like watching an early cut of a movie or listening to a practice recording of a song, yet it was surprisingly characterful and expressive, as Guigal pointed out: What I find amazing about this wine is that it is made from [vines] that are four and five years old. [Its character] cannot come from the age of the vines. It can only come from the quality of the terroir.”
E. Guigal_Wine Spectator_10.30.24 (1)Related Wines
E. Guigal
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 2020
Cote-Rotie
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne is a bold, muscular expression of the Côte Brune, known for its structure, intensity, and ageability. Marcel Guigal pieced together this vineyard over a decade, buying small parcels from 17 growers before replanting it in 1975—the year of Philippe Guigal’s birth. Its steep 45-degree slope and late-ripening position at the northern end of the Côte Brune yield fruit of remarkable depth. First produced in 1978, La Landonne is the darkest and most powerful of the LaLa wines, offering a striking contrast to the finesse of La Mouline.
E. Guigal
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque 2020
Cote-Rotie
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque was replanted in 1980 and '81 after the family acquired the site through their purchase of Vidal-Fleury. Though dormant for decades, Etienne Guigal remembered the quality of wines once made from this vineyard and led its revival, starting in 1985. La Turque occupies a unique position on the Côte Brune with soils that give the wine a rich, exotic character. Stylistically, it bridges the power of La Landonne and the elegance of La Mouline, combining intensity with seductive finesse.
E. Guigal
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2020
Cote-Rotie
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline comes from the oldest vineyard site in the appellation, with terraces dating back 2,400 years. Acquired in 1963, it was the Guigals’ first single-vineyard Côte-Rôtie, with the debut vintage released in 1966. The one-hectare vineyard sits on the Côte Blonde and is planted with about 11% Viognier, contributing to the wine’s lifted aromatics and signature elegance. With vines averaging 90 years old, La Mouline is known for its expressive, silky style—often considered the most graceful of Guigal’s iconic trio.
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E. Guigal
Rhône Valley, France
The more you learn about the Guigal family, the more astounding becomes their story. Their wines are the benchmarks for every Rhône appellation, and over the last thirty years they have become arguably the most lauded producer in the world. Year after year the Guigal family produces wines of exceptional quality that in all classes offer exceptional value.
