Wine Advocate 96 – the top La Guigasse to date:
More powerful than its Le Grand Pin stablemate, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape La Guigasse is made the same minimalistic way—100% whole-cluster Grenache from a single site, in this case a sandy parcel in the lieu-dit La Guigasse. Raised in demi-muids for two years or more, depending on the vintage, it has some meaty, charred notes that could be barrel-derived, but the overall oak impact is probably more textural than olfactory. Hints of rose petals, cherries and even orange zest join with darker toned notes of cola and dried spices in a whirl of complexity that's complemented by the wine's silky tannins. It's full-bodied but feels lighter, filling the mouth with its flavors while leaving the palate refreshed on the long finish.