Terroir
Born on the steep heights of Côte-Rôtie, La Reynarde takes root below the Fongeant plateau, on a wooded slope plunging towards the Reynard stream, a natural border between Côte Blonde and Côte Brune. A rare location, both sunny and ventilated, which concentrates all the tension and nobility of the great terroirs of the Northern Rhône Valley. Planted gradually from 2015 on 1.5 hectares of terraced slopes, this 100% Syrah plot rests on poor and filtering granitic soils. Here, the vine struggles, roots deeply, and gives birth to grapes of great aromatic intensity. A single vineyard cuvée in the purest tradition of the Guigal house, La Reynarde embodies a generational project. Like La Mouline, La Landonne, and La Turque, it expresses a precise interpretation of a micro-terroir of Côte-Rôtie: natural concentration, structured framework, mineral depth, and exceptional aging potential.
Winemaking
The grapes, harvested at perfect ripeness, are vinified with controlled extraction in order to preserve the natural balance of the vintage and the finesse of the tannic structure. The focus is never on demonstrative power, but on precision: concentration, structure, and tension must harmoniously coexist.
Ageing
Breeding is the signature of the Guigal style: 40 months in new oak barrels, like the other great vintages of the house. This long time shapes the wine in depth. The wood, perfectly integrated, supports the structure, refines the tannins and brings subtle notes of toasting, sweet spices and mocha, without ever masking the terroir's identity. This extended maturation explains the delay between harvest and commercialization: La Reynarde is only offered when it begins to find its balance, while still retaining a tremendous potential for evolution in the cellar.
Varietal
Syrah : 100%
Specifications
Alcohol content : 13 % vol.
Tasting
The nose is deep, concentrated, carried by a Syrah of great maturity: wild ripe, black plum, crushed blueberry. With aeration, the wine gains complexity with notes of graphite, smoke, pure cocoa, and a subtle touch of mocha from its long aging. The palate is full-bodied from the attack, but perfectly held. The material is dense, structured, without any heaviness. The tannins are tight, refined, still young, drawing a vertical architecture typical of the great granitic terroirs of Côte-Rôtie. The wood is noble, integrated, in service of depth.
Food pairings
The Reynarde calls for a precise, structured, and deep cuisine, capable of embracing its density without overwhelming it. This is a great wine for gastronomy, designed for the table. Superb with a slowly cooked lamb shoulder, reduced juice, and fresh herbs, where the richness of the meat converses with the controlled power of the Syrah. Also magnificent with a roasted pigeon, served pink, accompanied by a slightly truffled full-bodied juice: the mineral tension of the wine underlines the finesse of the flesh. For a more earthy approach, a royal hare or grilled aged beef, simply seasoned with crushed black pepper, will reveal the spicy depth and tannic structure of the vintage. As for cheese, opt for a strong matured blue cheese or an old Salers, whose texture and saltiness will resonate with the wine's long and elegant finish. Avoid overly sweet or spicy dishes that would disrupt the natural tension of this Côte-Rôtie.
Reviews
Robert Parker
Wine Spectator
Jancis Robinson
James Suckling
Decanter