2018 E. Guigal La Doriane Condrieu 750 ml

E. Guigal’s La Doriane is one of the superlative wines out of the Northern Rhône, a lavish and charming white the winemaker Robert Parker called “this planet’s greatest.” Their dual 97-point 2018 La Doriane Condrieu is a stunning bottle that critic Jeb Dunnuck says “shows the soft, sexy side” of the 2018 vintage.

This wine holds nothing back. It shows a cornucopia of heady aromatics: apricots, peaches, lilac, vanilla, and clove, all beckoning you to stand in awe. The first sip lands on the palate with an array of stone fruit and tropical fruit accented by hints of toasted oak and minerals. The considerable depth in this wine is a hallmark of La Doriane and a testament to Guigal’s mastery.

With just 475 acres of vines planted, Condrieu is one of the world’s truly special small viticultural gems. The vertiginous granitic slopes are incredibly difficult to farm, but, in the right hands, yield one of the world’s incomparable white wines—unctuous, golden bottlings that combine the complexity and finesse of white Burgundy with youthful energy in compelling, ageworthy bottles. La Doriane is produced from the appellation’s top five terroirs, ensuring that only the best grapes make the cut.

Guigal’s unconventional approach to aging La Doriane in 100% new French oak for an entire year delivers a remarkably complex, richly textured white that is a worthy addition to the long and illustrious E. Guigal legacy. It's simply the best that Condrieu has to offer.