Legendary Cote-Rotie wines: 2019 Guigal La Las

Collectively known as the La Las, these three single-vineyard cuvees from Côte-Rôtie are some of the most admired, rarest and sought-after wines to ever be produced. First to be released in 1966 was La Mouline, followed by La Landonne in 1978 and La Turque in 1985; all thanks to Northern Rhone pioneer Etienne Guigal, who founded the eponymous house in 1946 after learning his craft at the oldest continuously operating producer in the area, Vidal-Fleury.Today Etienne's son and grandson, Marcel and Philippe, are the guardians of this exceptional domaine.

The 2019 vintage in Côte-Rôtie was (another) really hot year that produced full-bodied, rich and structured wines that share some similarities to 2015 and 2009 (some of the benchmark vintages for the area in recent times). The top wines, such as these La Las, still manage to show an impeccable purity of fruit and overall balance. The defining feature of these wines is their superb concentration, even slightly more so than usual. Appealing to the finest wine drinkers and collectors alike, these Syrahs are a "must-have" in every serious cellar, as they are meant to reward patience requiring several years to express their depth and complexity.