E. Guigal Cote Rotie la Landonne 2020 750ml

97-100 The potentially perfect 2020 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne is riveting. Bringing together all the finest elements of the Guigal house style, it explodes from the glass with smoky blackberry jam, menthol, crushed rocks, cured meat, iodine, licorice, cloves and black olive tapenade. Charged with a massive tannic core, this concentrated powerhouse dazzles with off-the-charts intensity yet total clarity and focus. Built like a skyscraper, the 2020 will surely be a long-distance runner.

• Country: France
• Region: Rhone Valley
• Appellation: Cote Rotie
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red
• Alcohol by Vol: 14.5%

Varietal

Syrah

Known as Syrah in most countries around the world, and Shiraz in Australia and certain other regions of the New World, this grape varietal has proven over the centuries to be one of the most powerful and flavorful red wine grapes there is. It is now one of the planet’s most widely grown grapes, and is a favorite with wineries as a result of its robustness and versatility. It isn’t easy to identify many characteristics of this particular varietal, due to the fact that it is highly versatile and shows significant differences in flavor and character depending on the terroir it is grown in, and the climatic conditions of the region. However, Syrah is most widely associated with full bodied, strong and loud red wines, packed full of fruity and spicy flavors, held in a beautifully deep red liquid.