E. Guigal : La Mouline 2020

Delicate and surprisingly expressive at this early stage, the 2020 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline unfurls in the glass with aromas of dark berries, sweet spices, violets and subtle hints of oak. Medium- to full-bodied, round and enveloping, it’s rich and layered, with impressive depth at its core and a long, seamless finish that glides effortlessly across the palate.

Winey and brooding, with tremendous concentration to the dark currant, baking chocolate and spicy licorice root flavors. Salty and savory, offering briny olive and roasted herb notes. Tannins hold the grip on the finish, which shows good cut and freshness, with bay leaf and menthol details. Thick, chewy and rich, this needs time to fully unfurl its true potential and let the tannins loosen their grip. Syrah and Viognier. Best from 2026 through 2045. 90 cases imported.

Sticky damson and plum fruit, just a little touch of prune in the mix. Medium-bodied with fresh, fine tannins; quite an ethereal style of La Mouline, with floral hints and plentiful spicy oak among the roses. A compact style of wine for the vintage that suits what this vineyard delivers - good expression of terroir. I would drink this young, though it will no doubt age fairly well. From lieu-dit Côte Blonde and at the beginning of its 40 months in new French oak barriques.

Such a concentrated, focused yet bright La Mouline for the vintage. The nose reveals aromas of blackberries, dark plums, violets, undergrowth and black pepper. It's full-bodied with very fine tannins. It's ample, dense and yet so refined. The power is all under control, with the velvety, voluptuous core of dark cherries and berries mingling through the spices in harmony. The refined tannins guide the mid-palate onto a textural, long finish. Try after 2026.

Bottled in February 2024, the 2020 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline is a masterpiece. Crushed violet, black cherry, graphite, olive tapenade, crushed rocks, and cedar notes race out of the glass. A shot of espresso and minty shadings add further complexity. Stacked with ample flavor concentration and impressive depth, the 2020 hails from the glass with a vivid, energetic lift that carries from start to finish. Moreover, the round, sweet, and gently enveloping tannins are remarkably refined and integrated for such a young wine, suggesting the 2020 won’t require as much time to come around as usual. In short, this is a brilliant La Mouline that Guigal enthusiasts will want to snap up.

Flowers, espresso, herbs, smoke, and lifted, elegant cherries with a hint of licorice in the background form the nose. On the palate, the wine is creamy, elegant, refined, and sensuous. It exhibits richness, balance, and harmony, along with hedonistic tendencies. Clearly, the 2020 La Mouline will age and develop into a sublime vintage. The wine blends 89% Syrah with 11% Viognier from just 1 hectare of vines. Drink from 2029-2050.