E. Guigal

Why we follow E. Guigal

The estate

Founded in Ampuis in 1946 by Étienne Guigal, who had arrived in Côte-Rôtie in 1923 aged fourteen. His son Marcel took the reins in 1961 and made the estate world-famous; Marcel's son Philippe, an oenologist and the third generation, now runs the winemaking. The family also bought the historic Vidal-Fleury firm in 1984 and Château d'Ampuis. Guigal is both a major négociant and a top grower.

The vineyards

The three single-vineyard La La's sit on the Côte-Rôtie slopes above Ampuis. La Mouline lies on the Côte Blonde, the oldest and most famous site, bottled separately since the 1960s. La Landonne is on the steep Côte Brune, dark schist with iron oxide on a slope of around 45 degrees, first made in 1978. La Turque sits between the two in style, replanted in 1980 and 1981 after arriving with the Vidal-Fleury purchase, with a first vintage in 1985. The Côte Blonde and Côte Brune distinction is central: lighter mica-schist Blonde gives perfume, darker iron-rich Brune gives power. La Mouline includes around 11 per cent co-fermented Viognier and La Turque about 7 per cent, while La Landonne is entirely Syrah.

In the glass

Traditional vinification in stainless steel, followed by famously long élevage — around 42 months in entirely new oak for the La La's, the signature that gives them their patina. La Landonne is so steep that pickers work from the bottom upward, dragging grape bins uphill on sleds. All three La La's have received multiple perfect scores over the years, making Guigal arguably the most consistently top-rated red-wine producer in the world.

With Lamont’s

Offered through the Private Cellar Selection, generally following the May – June release. Register your interest and we will contact you when the next allocation is confirmed.