2021 Guigal Cote-Rotie La Turque

97 Points, Matt Walls – Decanter
This is very much on the perfumed, rose-like side of La Turque, along with characteristic star anise, nutmeg, and cinnamon spice, partly from the oak. It’s relatively light in body and concentration this year, but does have a good sense of freshness. More char and spice on the finish, along with vanilla pod. This year it’s actually quite light in tannins, and they are very fine. No hints of greenness, it’s fine and neat. It will be ready relatively early, and is not a vintage for long ageing. Low alcohol. At the beginning of its long maturation in 100% new oak barriques.

17.5+/20 Points, Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com
Cask sample. Lovely nose with violets and a ferrous character (iron filings). A generous fruit core – sweet red fruits and spiced notes. Toasty oak is covering the core of sweet fruit with a granite grip of tight, very firm tannins and a peppery note on the saline finish. Clearly has beautiful aromas and considerable oak to integrate, but lots to look forward to. 

96 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
In spite of the cool 2021 vintage, this complex Cote Rotie has excellent smoke, tar and pepper aromas plus some gingerbread and candied oranges. A very elegant expression of this site that has the concentration we expect, but more restrained power than in hot and dry vintages. Great length, the oak beautifully integrated in the very long, sophisticated finish. From the Cote Brune section of this appellation. Drink or hold.

93–95 Points, Nicholas Greinacher – Vinous 
The medium-bodied 2021 Côte-Rôtie La Turque offers up ripe fruits paired with meaty undertones and a splash of menthol. Vivid freshness marks the seamless palate, wrapped in a refined tannic structure. Ending with elegance on the savory finale, the 2021 is less punchy compared to the 2020 and 2022, yet it presents wonderful purity and expressiveness.