E. Guigal : Château de Nalys 2023

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Château de Nalys 2023 by E. Guigal

Tasting

Appearance
The wine reveals a beautiful pale yellow hue, at once youthful, clear and particularly bright.

Nose
The nose expresses elegant mineral notes, harmoniously dominated by fresh aromas of lemon and peach.

Palate
The palate reveals a magnificent richness perfectly balanced by great freshness and lovely minerality. The whole delivers a complete wine, endowed with remarkable elegance.

Food and wine pairings

This white wine pairs wonderfully with aged hard cheeses. It also remarkably accompanies oily fish such as tuna, as well as flavourful dishes featuring wild mushrooms.

Serving and cellaring

Approachable in its youth, this Château de Nalys 2023 possesses a structure and freshness that give it fine ageing potential. It can be enjoyed until around 2034. For an optimal experience, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature of around 15.5 degrees, with a possible one-hour decanting to allow it to fully open up.

The elegance and minerality of a great white wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape by E. Guigal

The estate

Founded in 1946 by Étienne Guigal, the E. Guigal House is a true institution of the Rhône Valley. Initially anchored in the north, this family estate extended its reach southward with the strategic acquisition of Château de Nalys in 2017, a historic 75-hectare property. Today, Philippe Guigal, representing the third generation, runs the estate with passion alongside his father Marcel. Independent and visionary, the family perpetuates a heritage of excellence, elevating its cuvées among the most prestigious wine references in the world.

The vineyard

The estate spans 75 hectares within the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. Reaching an exceptional altitude with north-facing slopes, the vineyard benefits from ideal climatic conditions. It is divided into three remarkable terroirs: La Crau with its famous rolled pebbles, Bois Sénéchal with its sandier soils, and the historic Nalys sector composed of fine sandstone, limestone and sandy-clay soils. Cultivated according to organic farming principles, the vines, aged 45 to 60 years, deliver rigorously controlled yields.

The vintage

The year began with a historically dry winter, followed by episodes of spring frost and a few localised hail showers. Despite these climatic challenges, disease pressure remained very low. The altitude of the vineyard played a crucial role during this warm vintage, helping to preserve the natural acidity of the berries and delivering a harvest of remarkable concentration.

Vinification and ageing

The creation of Château de Nalys 2023 is the focus of meticulous attention. Vinification takes place in vats with rigorously controlled temperatures. The wine then benefits from partial ageing in oak barrels. This ageing method is carefully measured to bring subtle woody complexity while preserving the brightness and purity of the fruit.

Grape varieties

This blend showcases Grenache Blanc as the main grape variety. It is harmoniously complemented by Clairette, Bourboulenc, along with subtle touches of Roussanne, Picpoul and Picardan.