2019 Côte-Rôtie, La Turque, E. Guigal, Rhône

Cask sample, tasted at the domaine—lots of clove and peppercorn. Incredible energy, drive and vibrancy on the palate – this is all about verve, direction, definition and tantalising freshness. The subtle intricacies of clove and smoke adorn the pure and densely rich palate. 

Drink 2025 - 2045

Bright and energetic on the intensely fragrant nose, displaying ripe black/blue fruit, vanilla and floral scents that pick up olive and exotic spice notes as the wine stretches out. In a powerful, fruit-driven style, offering appealingly sweet cherry, blackberry, mocha and allspice flavours, plus suggestions of liquorice and cola. It finishes extremely long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins and an assertive jolt of minerality.

A big step up in quality from La Mouline this year, it's deeply savoury with smoked meats on the nose at this stage. Full-bodied but not excessive, this is round and generous with massy and ripe tannins. The oak is robust and well-judged, and it ends very deep with a powerful but lifted, saline finish. There is great depth on show, very fine; it's big but not excessive. On the Côte-Brune, planted by Marcel Guigal in 1980 first vintage 1985) after having been abandoned since 1935. La Turque is a central part of Côte Brune, less than one hectare. At the beginning of its 42 months in new French oak barriques.

Drink 2029 - 2041

I was blown away by the 2019 Côte Rôtie La Turque, which comes from a tiny parcel in the Côte Brune and is fermented with a touch of Viognier as well as a small amount of stems. It too has a smoky, meaty, gamey profile as well as full-bodied richness and tons of mid-palate depth and concentration. It's another serious 2019 with structure to spare, remarkable purity, flawless balance, and a great finish. As usual, it's not for the instant gratification crowd and is going to demand 10-15 years of bottle age.

The extroverted 2019 Cote Rotie La Turque is about as impressive a young wine as I've tasted at Guigal, with extravagant, blossom-like aromas and oodles of cassis and blueberries. Full-bodied, it's simultaneously concentrated and rich yet airy and almost weightless, an outrageous juxtaposition of characters that must be tasted to be understood.

Drink 2025 - 2045

From the haunting nose through to the end of the extremely long finish this wine embodies the rocky personality of Cote-Rotie, along with the special ripeness that the syrah achieves here. As floral as it is stony, as structured as it is concentrated, yet all of this builds an imposing and enchanting whole. A cuvee of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. 

Drinkable now, but best from 2025.