E. Guigal : Château de Nalys 2023

Tasting notes and characteristics of Château de Nalys red 2023

Tasting

Appearance

The glass reveals a deep ruby colour, shot through with subtle purple highlights.

Nose

Intense and seductive, the bouquet releases aromas of perfectly ripe black fruits, such as blackberry and black cherry. With aeration, delicate notes of sweet spices, garrigue and a hint of black pepper come to enrich this aromatic palette.

Palate

The attack is ample and generous, carried by silky, well-rounded tannins. The mid-palate unfolds a beautiful fruit concentration, supported by a welcome freshness that balances the richness of the whole. The long, persistent finish leaves a pleasant spicy sensation.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine from the Rhône Valley will sublimate a fine grilled beef cut, a leg of lamb roasted with Provence herbs or a duck breast with green pepper. It will also pair wonderfully with aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

To fully enjoy its complexity, it is recommended to serve this wine between 16 and 18°C. While it can be enjoyed in its youth after decanting, it has excellent cellaring potential, allowing it to evolve in the cellar for many years.

The authentic expression of a great red wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The estate

An illustrious name of the Rhône Valley, the E. Guigal estate was founded in 1946 by Étienne Guigal in Ampuis. Now led by the third generation, this family house perpetuates a quest for excellence on the greatest Rhône terroirs. In 2017, the Guigal family acquired the prestigious Château de Nalys, a historic estate in the southern Rhône Valley, thereby marking its deep roots in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation.

The vineyard

Château de Nalys watches over an exceptional vineyard spread across three emblematic terroirs of the appellation: the "Nalys" plot with its sandy sandstone soils, "Le Bois Sénéchal" and its ancient alluvial terroirs, as well as the famous "Crau" covered with rolled pebbles. These vines, cultivated with the utmost care, draw from this geological diversity all the complexity and richness that characterise the estate's great wines.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage offered Châteauneuf-du-Pape contrasting but overall favourable climatic conditions in the southern Rhône Valley. After a spring that required great vigilance, the hot and dry summer allowed the grapes to reach optimal phenolic ripeness, promising red wines that are concentrated, balanced and endowed with lovely freshness.

Vinification and ageing

The harvest is carried out manually with rigorous sorting of the berries. Vinification is conducted in a traditional manner, with long maceration times to gently extract colour and tannins. The wine is then aged in large casks and oak barrels, allowing it to refine and develop its aromatic complexity while preserving the brightness of the fruit.

Grape variety

This wine comes from a blend typical of the appellation, giving pride of place to Grenache, complemented by Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vaccarèse.