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Guigal La La New Release (2018) Dinner with Brett Crittenden

Prince Wine Store South Melbourne

Tasted September 15, 2022 by richard.presser with 255 views

Introduction

Built around the 2018 La La wines.

Flight 1 - Whites (3 notes)

Seared scallops, celeriac creme, chive & caviar beurre blanc

White
2020 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
88 points
A wonderful eminently drinkable white. 5-60% Viognier form the Southern Rhone, most if not all bought form other growers as a finished wine and then blended. Produced in huge volumes.
Medium weight and length. No greatness but no faults. Wonderful QPR
White
2019 E. Guigal Condrieu France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
89 points
Fine, some richness though lacking the structure to age. A pleasant example. Perhaps better in 2-3 years.
White
2020 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
95 points
Aged in 100% new oak.
Spectacular.
Fine, rich nose. Rich, complex, long, profound.
Shows none of the limiting lack of acid viognier struggles with. Deals effortlessly with the oak. Phenolics and other elements provide the backbone. This will carry age. A revelation for me.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 2 - Second tier reds (4 notes)

Pheasant & roast chestnut risotto, guanciale

Red
2019 E. Guigal St. Joseph Lieu-Dit St. Joseph Rouge France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
90 points
Fine, rich, elegant. Very good. Will age well. Overwhelmed, however, by the 2019 St Joseph Vignes de l'Hospice.
Red
2019 E. Guigal St. Joseph Vignes de L'Hospice France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
94 points
Sweet, complex, profound. Beautiful.
Aged in 100% new oak. Geologically related to Hermitage across the river.
Although drinkable now, 10 years will see it hitting its straps. My second choice behind the La Las - eclipsed by the 2018 d'Ampuis.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2018 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
91 points
Very fine, complex. 7% Viognier. Blue fruits. A lovely wine but simply overshadowed on the night by the 2019 Vignes de l'Hospice and especially the 2018 d'Ampuis.
Red
2018 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
98 points
38 months in new oak. Handles this effortlessly.
Rich, complex, powerful red and blue fruits. Effortless, long, graceful, powerful. A worthy stablemate to the La Las at 1/3rd the price. Perhaps in 15 years the La Las might pull away, but this is just spectacular. Some have rated it a 100 point wine. More added to my initial order after the dinner. I will watch this on its wondrous journey.
6 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - The La Las (3 notes)

Braised lamb shank wrapped in San Daniele prosciutto, enoki mushrooms

Red
2018 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
99 points
Refined, feminine, powerful, long, ripe. Opened up over an hour. Possibly the first of the La Las to reach its drinking window. Wonderful.
1 person found this helpful Comments (7)
Red
2018 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
99 points
Perhaps the most masculine of the 3 and the longest living. Everything is in place. Powerful, muscular yet restrained, elegant.
IMO, needs 15 years minimum.
Red
2018 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
97 points
For me, the sleeper of the trio. Everything is there but it has little to say at this point. Again, needs 15 years, IMO, to begin to show itself.

Closing

Not a dud in the line-up.
Food from Bellota was wonderful.

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