READ · COMPARE · EXPLAIN
Guigal: Two Vineyards and Grape Composition within the Same Appellation
A maison producing wine in the Rhône Valley. In Côte-Rôtie in the northern Rhône, it makes single-vineyard reds such as La Mouline and La Landonne. Within the same appellation you can compare Syrah-only styles and those blended with Viognier.
We compare the official specifications of La Mouline and La Landonne. Match each of the following individually: presence of white varieties, vineyard, maceration, and barrel aging.
Questions for this course
If it’s a Côte-Rôtie red, are they both 100% Syrah?
Before you start reading, briefly jot down your thoughts. You will rephrase them at the end.
To applied practice using the material ↓
To explanation task notes ↓E. Guigal / Learn from Producers
France / Rhône / Côte-Rôtie
Other names & notations: Guigal / E Guigal
Update date: 2026-09-24
Two varieties used for red wine
The grape composition for La Mouline is Syrah 89% and Viognier 11%. In contrast, La Landonne uses only Syrah (100%). Even among Côte-Rôtie wines from the same producer, the use of white varieties differs. Consider color categorization for reds separately from the grape blend used.
Overlay vineyard names onto blending tables.
La Mouline is located in Côte Blonde, with official materials listing gneiss and calcareous loess as soil types. La Landonne's soil is described as iron-rich calcareous clay. With both vineyard and grape proportions changing, the difference in aroma between the two wines cannot be explained solely by the presence or absence of Viognier.
Read extraction and maturation periods separately.
The official page at the time of confirmation states that La Mouline is macerated for about 5 weeks and La Landonne for at least 4 weeks. Both are matured in new barrels for 40 months. The period of skin contact (given in weeks) and the barrel aging time (given in months) are distinct numbers representing different steps.
Choose a single vintage to check
These two pages do not specify harvest years. If tasting, choose two bottles from the same vintage and compare technical materials from each year. The shared barrel aging period can be a clue for comparison, but do not assume fruit ripeness and extraction are also identical.
What to align and what to compare.
Grapes
- Conditions to standardize
- Same producer: same appellation
- Conditions for comparison.
- Syrah solo and with Viognier
- Additional points to confirm
- Separate blend and color classification
Vineyard
- Conditions to standardize
- Côte-Rôtie
- Conditions for comparison.
- Description of plot and soil
- Additional points to confirm
- The blend can also vary at the same time.
Process
- Conditions to standardize
- Product description stating 40 months in new barrels
- Conditions for comparison.
- About 5 weeks maceration and minimum 4 weeks
- Additional points to confirm
- Add the specifications for the applicable vintage.
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Guigal Document Reading: Two Vineyards and Grape Composition within the Same Appellation
Verify the ingredients and processes in the materials and consider reasons for differences.
The numbers are based on documentation from the indicated year, or the product description at the time of confirmation. Descriptions without a vintage do not guarantee specifications for all vintages.
| Comparison items | La Mouline | La Landonne |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | 89% Syrah, 11% Viognier | 100% Syrah |
| Soil description. | Gneiss, calcareous loess. | Lime-rich clay with high iron content |
| Maceration | About 5 weeks | Minimum 4 weeks |
| Aged in new oak | 40 months | 40 months |
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Read the explanation for each question
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Which wine uses Viognier?
La Mouline is composed of 89% Syrah and 11% Viognier. La Landonne is 100% Syrah, so even under the same appellation, the blend differs.
What is the period that is standardized for both wines in the comparison?
40 months is the aging in barrel. The maceration period is described separately, so you cannot assume identical barrel aging or extraction conditions.
Can differences in aroma be solely attributed to white grape varieties?
With these two wines, vineyard and soil descriptions and maceration duration also differ. You cannot isolate the effect of a single variety from a comparison where multiple variables change.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Compare the raw materials and processes in the documentation, and explain the choices made by the producer.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | La Mouline | La Landonne |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | 89% Syrah, 11% Viognier | 100% Syrah |
| Soil description. | Gneiss, calcareous loess. | Lime-rich clay with high iron content |
| Maceration | About 5 weeks | Minimum 4 weeks |
| Aged in new oak | 40 months | 40 months |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
List the shared and different conditions between the two wines, and give a reason why the presence or absence of Viognier alone cannot explain the difference in taste.
Check after writing
- Did you read the proportion of grape varieties correctly?
- Did you distinguish the differences between vineyards and winemaking?
- Did you indicate the scope of the description when no vintage year is provided?
Save response to explanation task
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