E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie La Turque 2013
On the vertiginous slopes of Côte-Rôtie, La Turque holds a unique place among the great single-vineyard cuvées of the Guigal house. Founded in 1946 by Étienne Guigal in Ampuis, this family winery has profoundly contributed to the international renown of the great wines of the northern Rhône. Alongside La Mouline and La Landonne, La Turque belongs to an emblematic trilogy, each of these cuvées offering a different interpretation of the appellation's terroirs. Its vineyard is located on the Côte Brune, whose soils rich in iron oxides traditionally give rise to deep, structured, and intensely spicy Syrahs. The particularity of La Turque lies in its ability to combine this characteristic power with a particularly refined, almost voluptuous texture. Produced in very limited quantities, it benefits from extremely rigorous work, from vineyard management to its long aging in the cellar. This alliance between parcel identity, winemaking precision, and aging potential explains its place among the most sought-after wines of the Rhône Valley.
The 2013 La Turque blends 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier, a traditional Côte-Rôtie combination that brings a floral dimension to the aromatic depth of Syrah. The vines, about forty years old on average, root themselves in siliceous-limestone soils mixed with altered mica schists, giving rise to clayey soils rich in iron oxides. The 2013 vintage stands out from particularly sunny years by cooler climatic conditions, which favored gradual ripening and preserved the natural freshness of the grapes. This climatic evolution gives the wine a personality more built on aromatic precision, tension, and structure than on mere opulence. Vinification is carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with regular punch-downs and an extended maceration of about four weeks, intended to gradually extract color, substance, and tannins. The wine then continues its evolution for forty months in new oak barrels, a particularly long aging that is one of the characteristics of the house's great cuvées. This maturation accompanies La Turque's natural density while preparing its aromatic development over several decades.
The deep ruby robe with dark reflections announces a wine still endowed with remarkable concentration. The bouquet gradually unfolds aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry, accompanied by violet, black pepper, licorice, and delicate smoky nuances. With aeration, more evolved notes of fine leather, undergrowth, cocoa, and spices appear, enriching its expression without masking the fruit. On the palate, the substance is dense, ample, and particularly silky, supported by a tannic structure that retains all the personality of the Côte Brune. The freshness of the 2013 vintage brings appreciable energy and extends a persistent finish marked by spices, dark fruits, and a discreet mineral sensation. Already engaged in an interesting phase of its evolution, this wine still has enough structure to continue aging for many years, gradually revealing all the subtlety of its terroir. At the table, its depth will accompany a royal hare, a venison fillet with porcini mushrooms, a roasted pigeon, or a herb-crusted rack of lamb, preparations capable of responding to its richness without overshadowing its finesse.
Grape varieties: 93% Syrah, 7% Viognier
