The three flagship Côte-Rôtie reds from Guigal are the so-called “La La’s” - La Mouline (since 1966), La Landonne (since 1978), and La Turque (since 1985). A vertical tasting of La Turque is the focus of this dinner. It is one of the world’s greatest wines, so let’s deepen our experience of it together this evening.

La Turque is a 1 hectare vineyard in the Côte Brune, near La Landonne, with a steep southern exposure. Stylistically I find in style it sits somewhere between the wild, firm and gamey 100% Syrah ‘La Landonne’ – which requires the longest cellaring, and the 89% Syrah 11% Viognier ‘La Mouline’ from the Côte Blonde with its heady perfume, and silkier texture. La Turque is 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier, late picked and made in a bold yet highly complex style. After a long cuvaison, the wine is aged for up to 42 months in 100% new oak. Sitting between the two, is it the quintessential example of Guigal’s craft?

All that intensity, great fruit from the best terroir, and in a bold style, does it evolve into a fruit bomb, something gluggy? Not at all, in my experience. For me this wine evolves into something quite exciting, it just requires patience. There is a central weight and concentration, for sure, but emanating from that, with sufficient bottle age, is a great deal of complexity, vivacity, and harmony between sweet fruit and savoury, appetizing elements. It’s an amazing wine. It’s also remarkably consistent, for while there are of course ‘great vintages’ (and we have some this evening), I’ve never had a La La I’ve felt was really weak, or lacking. They just need time.

We have a really great spread of vintages here with which to capture the style of La Turque –

Wines to be served:
1989 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque' 
1990 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque' 
1991 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque' 
1994 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque'
1996 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque'
1997 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque'
1998 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque' 
1999 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque' (WA100)
2001 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque'
2003 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque' (WA100)
2004 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque'
2005 Maison E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie 'La Turque' (WA100)