2016 Château de Nalys Châteauneuf-du-Pape Saintes Pierres de Nalys 750 ml

Guigal’s 70-year Search is Over

Nothing says world-class wine, or sends collectors into a frenzy, like the name Guigal: Their Northern Rhône bottlings are the stuff of legend, and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate calls them “the modern world’s greatest testament to a family-run winery.” Our visit to the Guigal cellars earlier this year felt like a holy pilgrimage, so you can imagine our excitement when they produced an unexpected bottle from their “new crown jewel.”

It was the 2016 Château de Nalys Châteauneuf-du-Pape Saintes Pierres de Nalys, a rich, ruby-colored gem from the family’s newly acquired property. Today we bring it to you, before the fanfare that will inevitably follow as Guigal—a family whose wines rivals Petrus, Latour, La Tâche, and Yquem—makes these wines impossible to find. 

With its ripe and rich nose of strawberry, mint, purple florals and spice, and palate of fresh raspberry, herbs, and peppered meats, the Saintes Pierres is pure Châteauneuf—from a historic 98-point season that critic Jeb Dunnuck encourages collectors to “buy with abandon.” 

Although they are best known worldwide for their Northern Rhône wines—they have minted over TWENTY 100-point wines from their stronghold in Côte-Rotie—the Guigals have crafted excellent Châteauneuf since 1946, while using fruit sourced from local growers. But for seven decades, their own estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape eluded them. That was until an intensive twenty-year search by second- and third-generation vintners Marcel and Philippe Guigal led the family to stake their Southern Rhône fortunes on Château de Nalys.

When we visited Nalys, it was easy to see what had made Marcel and Philippe Guigal fall in love at first sight, both on the surface, and below. Yes, there is the stunning château, and the estate’s 400-year history. But it’s the limitless potential of the terroir that makes this property special, and fit right into the Guigal tradition of stratospheric quality.

Located in the heart of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, Nalys features 120 acres spread over three unique vineyard plots, including one in La Crau, the renowned Châteauneuf terroir closely associated with Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. The Nalys vineyard, packed with the red sandy clay soil known locally as saffres, furnishes freshness and silky texture, while the small stones and sand of Bois Sénéchal lend balance and precision. Because of the varied terroir of the estate, all thirteen grape varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pape have thrived at Nalys for four centuries.

Aged mostly in stainless steel tanks, the 2016 Saintes Pierres is elegant, energetic, and shows beautifully fresh and ripe red fruit. From the moment you open it, this is unadulterated Châteauneuf purity and pleasure from one of the most respected names in the world of wine.

It’s simply impossible to imagine the Guigal family, now with their own outpost in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, doing anything other than elevating Château de Nalys to the absolute pinnacle of the region. And when they do—and the wines command commensurate prices—you’ll be amazed that you were able to secure their astounding 2016 effort for this price.