Richard Hemming MW writes one of the first pieces covering the new Chateau de Nalys wines  from Guigal.  You can read the full article here (subscription required), and the comments on the wines below.  While these initial reviews are great, it is indeed the comments that are most exciting.

Guigal, Saintes Pierres de Nalys 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
36% Clairette, 29% Bourboulenc, 25% Grenache Blanc, 7% Roussanne, 3% Picardin. 20% aged in demi-muids for eight months. 50% malolactic fermentation. Bottled June 2018.
More overtly grapey aromas than the Guigal Châteauneuf, but the same substantial concentration and waxy texture. Melon and peach fruit on the long aftertaste. Achieves volume without distortion. (RH)
Drink 2018-2028
17

Guigal, Ch de Nalys 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
43% Roussanne, 33% Grenache Blanc, 15% Clairette, 6% Bourboulenc, 3% Piquepoul. 70% aged in demi-muids for eight months. 60% malolactic fermentation. Bottled June 2018.
Creamier and more sweetly spiced than their Saintes Pierres, with plush, lush texture and great fragrance. Lavish oak, but it’s not ostentatious. The orchard fruit of the Roussanne comes through clearly. (RH)
Drink 2017-2027
17.5

Guigal, Saintes Pierres de Nalys 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
69% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 4% Muscardin, 1% Counoise, 1% Mourvèdre. 10% aged in foudres for 18 months. Bottled June 2018.
Riper red fruit than the Guigal 2015 with juicy blackberry fruit and black olive aromas too. Very full. A rip-roarer, and still quite raw. Has the power of the vintage, so should improve. (RH)
Drink 2018-2024
16+

Guigal, Ch de Nalys 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Barrel sample. 59% Grenache, 32% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 3% Counoise, 1% Vacarèse. 30% aged in barriques and foudres.
Superb red fruit, really showcasing the purity of Grenache. Clay-textured tannins. Great perfume, with a scent a bit like fennel. There’s a real broad scope of flavour here, although it will need time to express itself fully. (RH)
Drink 2019-2031
17.5

“Superb red fruit, really showcasing the purity of Grenache. Clay-textured tannins. Great perfume, with a scent a bit like fennel. There’s a real broad scope of flavour here, although it will need time to express itself fully.”

“More overtly grapey aromas than the Guigal Châteauneuf, but the same substantial concentration and waxy texture. Melon and peach fruit on the long aftertaste. Achieves volume without distortion.”

“Creamier and more sweetly spiced than their Saintes Pierres, with plush, lush texture and great fragrance. Lavish oak, but it’s not ostentatious. The orchard fruit of the Roussanne comes through clearly.”

“Waxy and more aromatic than most, with something of the peachiness of Condrieu, it seems. Superbly fleshy with soft acid and full body. A touch of nutty character on the finish. Lengthy. A confident debut. “

James Molesworth declares that “The Southern Rhone sets a new benchmark in 2016, while the North also excels” in his Rhone report for Wine Spectator. In the multi-page feature, Philippe Guigal is prominently featured in a photograph that notes he has high hopes for Domaine de Nalys, the Chateauneuf du Pape estate his family purchased in 2017. Molesworth adds that Nalys is best known for its white wines, two of which rated outstanding in 2016. Guigal’s northern Rhone wines are also featured as top recommendations in the buying guide.

See the report attached here:

Wine Spectator Rhone Report Feature

In advance of Thanksgiving tomorrow, wine writer Sara Schneider penned an online story for Robb Report that will help readers navigate wine shop selections for their holiday table. The story, “12 Heart Wines to Pair with Your Thanksgiving Dinner,” featured the Château de Nalys 2017 Grand Vin Blanc Châteauneuf-du-Pape! This is incredibly exciting as the Guigal family has just released their first vintage from this historic estate in the Southern Rhone. Sara recommended a dozen bottles for Thanksgiving that can “handle all the rambunctious flavors on the table,” and specifically noted the Château de Nalys Grand Vin Blanc was one “worth keeping an eye out for.” Sara highlighted that “under the ownership now of iconic E. Guigal, Château de Nalys, in Châteauneuf, has upped its game.” Sara included a bottle shot and shared the wine’s tasting notes, such as its “lovely aromatics of honeysuckle, nectarines, and wet stones.” You can read the full story here

Chilled Magazine featured the Château de Nalys Grand Vin Rouge 2016 and Grand Vin Blanc 2017 in the column “Behind the Wine Bar,” which appeared in the magazine’s December issue. Writer Gina Farrell noted that these are new wines from the Guigal family and described specific tasting notes for each. She highlighted that the Grand Vin Rouge “balances fruit, spice and minerality for a wine in the true Château de Nalys style,” while the Grand Vin Blanc “exemplifies the finest qualities of the white wine grapes grown in the Rhône Valley.” Bottle shots of each wine were included in the story, enclosed here:

The Château de Nalys Grand Vin Rouge was featured in an online holiday gift guide for Cottages & Gardens. Writer Sheri de Borchgrave noted that in a rare change of hands, the “coveted” Château de Nalys property was recently acquired by the Guigal family. Alongside a photo of the bottle, Sheri described the wine as “powerful and elegant, a blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah,” and noted it is “stunning with dark cherry and blackberry flavors, hints of spice, integrated tannins and a long finish.” You can see her full list of recommendations here

The Château de Nalys Grand Vin Rouge 2016 was featured on Forbes.com as wine writer Brian Freedman’s “Red Wine of the Week.” A wine that has “everything going for it,” Brian noted its “generous fruit and spice make it eminently rewarding to drink right now, especially with an hour or so in the decanter, but it also has the structure to evolve in the cellar for another decade-plus.” Brian also highlighted that the wine’s “quintessential Southern Rhône aromas of mineral-tinged brambly berries are complicated by a whiff of raw meat and a lift of floral peppercorns,” adding “if you can smell this without craving barbecue, I’d be impressed…or incredulous.” The story, which you can read  here,  also includes a photo of the rocky vineyards found at Château de Nalys.

Forbes Dec1418