The 2015 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline is an exceptional Syrah from the Northern Rhone region of France, produced by Guigal. This wine has garnered high praise across the board, with scores ranging from 95 to a perfect 100, reflecting its overall excellence and potential longevity.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rates this wine at 99 points, describing it as "full-bodied and powerful yet elegant." The review highlights a complex bouquet featuring "espresso, grilled meat, caramelized plum, and cassis," complemented by "hints of vanilla and herbal-floral notes" on a "nearly limitless finish." This publication anticipates even greater nuances with additional aging.
Jeb Dunnuck similarly praises the wine, giving it a score of 98+. He notes its "deep, saturated purple color" and a "monster bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks, and hints of flowers." Dunnuck emphasizes its "full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a focused, tight, backward vibe," suggesting the wine will be incredibly long-lived, needing a few more years to reach its peak.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com awards it a perfect 100 points, noting the "incredible aromatics of sweet red and black cherries, blueberries, smoke, licorice, flowers, pepper, and thyme." He describes the wine as "rich, concentrated, and intense," with a "beautiful sense of purity to the fruit" that leaves a lasting impression.
Wine Spectator also scores it at 98 points, mentioning its core flavors of "red and black currant preserves, raspberry pâte de fruit, and plum reduction," which are "encased in layers of singed alder, warm earth, and smoldering tobacco." The reviewer, J.M., advises that the wine will be best enjoyed between 2025 and 2045.
James Suckling rates this vintage at 99 points, calling it "pure class and a great vintage for sure." He describes the wine's nose as "very complex and complete," with "ripe blackberries, blood plums, fragrant spices, dark stones, and roasted coffee." Suckling notes its "richness and such build and layering," with "velvety tannins in a majestic mode."
Decanter gives it a slightly lower but still impressive 95 points, highlighting its "perfume and aromatic lift," with "incense and star anise" and "plentiful oak spice." Although the tannins are described as "a little drying," the finish is long with a "good sense of purity to the fruit."
Vinous rates the wine at 98 points, describing it as "opaque, bright-rimmed ruby" with "expansive, mineral-tinged aromas" of "ripe red and blue fruits, incense, bacon fat, olive, mocha, and pungent flowers." The review notes its "vibrant boysenberry, black raspberry, olive paste, smoked meat, five-spice powder, and violet pastille flavors," with "supple, gently gripping tannins" that culminate in a "floral- and mineral-driven finish."
In summary, the 2015 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline is a highly acclaimed Syrah, celebrated for its complexity, richness, and potential for long-term aging. This wine is a testament to the quality and craftsmanship of the Guigal winery.