Why it matters
The producer
Three generations of the Guigal family have changed how Côte-Rôtie is viewed and made. The family’s defining range is built around named Côte-Rôtie wines, with La Mouline at the beginning of the La La sequence and La Turque and La Landonne occupying different positions beside it.
La Mouline helped renew international interest in the Rhône. Its role is larger than a single bottle, but its character remains concrete: Viognier joins Syrah in the ferment, new oak carries the wine through 40 months of ageing, and the finished wine is floral, spicy, voluptuous and silky.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Ampuis supplies the home address, while Côte-Rôtie names the Northern Rhône appellation. Guigal’s Brune et Blonde uses the broader appellation name; La Mouline, La Turque and La Landonne narrow the label to named Côte-Rôtie wines. That movement from broad appellation to named bottling changes the range from fresh, round fruit to darker, more concentrated flavours.
Hermitage Ex Voto extends the range beyond Côte-Rôtie. It is a separate Northern Rhône red with dense black fruit, spice, earth and stone, made only in top vintages and intended for long cellaring.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
La Mouline is made from 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier, co-fermented together. That cellar choice places the floral contribution inside the red wine, alongside spice, red and black fruit, pepper, earth and truffle. The wine then spends 40 months in new oak, supporting its voluptuous, silky texture.
La Turque uses 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from Côte Brune, giving it a different blend and site address within the La La sequence. Hermitage Ex Voto follows a longer cellar plan: it ages in 100% new French oak barrels for 30 to 36 months before bottling. It is produced only in top vintages, with close to 600 cases made, and needs 10 to 12 years of cellaring before it reaches its strongest drinking phase.
Wines to know
The range in view
Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde is the broad appellation wine in the range. Its sweet, fresh, round fruit profile makes it the bottle for earlier access, with three to five years of cellaring suggested before it is ready.
La Mouline is the most floral and silky of the named wines in the supported range. Its 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier blend, co-fermentation and 40 months in new oak lead to ruby colour with red vermillion tints, spice, pepper, earth, truffle, black fruit and red fruit.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Start with La Mouline, a named Côte-Rôtie made from 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier. The two grapes are co-fermented, then the wine spends 40 months in new oak. In the glass it is ruby red with red vermillion tints, floral and spicy, with pepper, earth, truffle, black fruit and red fruit. Its voluptuous, silky texture gives the wine a clear physical signature. It is the right first bottle because it carries the beginning of the La La sequence and links Guigal’s blend, cellar method and Côte-Rôtie style in one wine.