1999 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

Early spring frost and late rains tested La Landonne's granite slopes. Cool temperatures preserved bright acidity through harvest. The wine shows iron, black fruits, and game notes with striking freshness.

Summer heat intensified concentration on La Landonne's iron-rich soils, while the steep terraced slopes provided crucial afternoon shade. The dark schist terroir and old-vine Syrah demonstrated remarkable resilience through the warm vintage. The wine reveals profound black fruits, smoky bacon, and ferrous minerals with the raw power distinctive to this northern Rhône site.

E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 2002 Vintage Callout: Challenging wet conditions in early September required strict selection on La Landonne's steep schist terraces. The vineyard's southern exposure and perfect drainage proved crucial during the difficult harvest period. The wine reflects La Landonne's power with smoked meat, black olive, and dark fruits, showing the site's signature iron-tinged intensity beneath refined tannins.

Severe drought and high temperatures through August concentrated La Landonne's Syrah clusters to near-raisin levels, producing a wine of immense power - black fruits and leather interweave with crushed violets and game. Robert Parker awarded 99 points to this vintage that masterfully balanced ripeness with the estate's signature minerality from its steep granite soils.

Late September rains challenged La Landonne's steep granite slopes, yet the resulting wine shows remarkable depth - dark fruits mesh with iron and smoke, while cool temperatures preserved striking acidity and structure.

Intense summer warmth tested vines across the Northern Rhône, though La Landonne's steep, schist-laden soils provided crucial water retention. The parcel's northern exposure helped moderate the vintage heat while achieving full phenolic ripeness. The wine shows profound depth with black fruit and smoky mineral notes that reflect both the warm vintage and La Landonne's singular terroir.

Perfect conditions blessed the estate's terraced vines with steady warmth and minimal rainfall, producing concentrated berries that yielded a wine of profound complexity.

The iron-rich soils of La Landonne's steep terraces proved crucial during the warm, dry growing season. Old-vine Syrah showed particular resilience to the vintage heat, developing profound concentration while maintaining freshness. The wine captures the site's power through layers of black fruits and savory notes, amplified by the warmth of the vintage.