Guigal   La Turque   Cote Brune

2002 La Turque - Cote Brune

By Guigal

2002 La Turque - Cote Brune by Guigal, Rhone

Wine connoisseurs will be familiar with the legendary reputation of the Guigal Estate in the Rhône Valley, and the 2002 La Turque - Cote Brune from Guigal stands as a phenomenal testament to their mastery. Known for their rich and exquisite Syrah wines, it is fair to say that the 2002 vintage manifests its differential attributes eloquently.

 

A Gift from the Terroir

The Rhône Valley's terroir allows Syrah to express itself like no other place on earth. The 2002 La Turque - Cote Brune, set against its predecessors, denotes a fascinating climatic narrative. 2002 did not witness an easy growing season due to its cool start and relatively damp end. However, Guigal's insurmountable winemaking prowess turned these challenging conditions into an advantage, leading to typically lighter Syrah wines offering delicate layers of complexity.

This incarnation of La Turque showcases an alluring nose of dark fruits, pepper and earth with a lingering floral touch - hallmarks of Guigal's unique interpreter-ship of the varied regional climate.

 

Intricate Complexity Defined

The true delight of exploring vintages is encountering individual nuances created by climatic factors. The 2002 season's challenges birthed a wine that astoundingly combines depth and elegance. The dark fruit palate integrates seamlessly with subtle hints of spice, culminating in a long finish reminiscent of wet stone minerality, which differ this wine from its preceding and succeeding counterparts.

First-time investors should note that the 2002 La Turque - Cote Brune is an exceptional opportunity due to its distinctive lightness and complex taste profile that only Guigal can generate. Savour the 2002 La Turque - Cote Brune as an intriguing narrative piece along with your wine portfolio, its complex tapestry of flavours reflecting the challenging but ultimately fascinating year of 2002.

In the pantheon of Rhône wines, the 2002 La Turque - Cote Brune from Guigal resolutely stands out from the crowd as a testament of what can be achieved through meticulous winemaking in a less-than-perfect vintage year.

Current market price

$4,330.00

12x75cl

Highest score

92

POP score

215.83

Scores and tasting notes

91-93

The 2002 Cote Rotie La Turque, which includes 7% Viognier, reveals a deeper ruby/purple color along with a sweet bouquet of graphite, acacia flowers, black currants, and notions of meat and truffle. Fruity, soft, round, and substantial, it can be drunk over the next 10-12 years. Marcel and Philippe Guigal, never content to rest on their already impressive credentials, announced that in the future, they expect to release another single vineyard Cote Rotie from a 3.7 acre parcel in the Viria vineyard on the Cote Brune. The first vintage or two will probably be added to the Chateau d’Ampuis. If the potential turns out to be as exceptional as they believe, lovers of these great wines will have a fourth single vineyard Cote Rotie called Viria to contemplate. There are many admirable things about Marcel Guigal, but most significant is that he has been a qualitative locomotive that has brought attention to the Rhone Valley, and has raised the quality bar for the entire region. More importantly, he realizes that most consumers will have access only to his least expensive wines from the Cotes du Rhone, so he has made every effort to continue to increase the quality of both his white and red Cotes du Rhones. His Cotes du Rhone whites have jumped in quality as he has settled on a general blend of approximately 50% Viognier and the rest Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc. Importer: Fred Ek and Patrick Will, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 February 2006

Vintage performance