The 1991 La Turque behaves as if it wants to be the northern Rhone's answer to Richebourg and Musigny. However, with the exception of Domaine Leroy, you cannot find a Richebourg or Musigny with the richness and complexity of this awesome wine. The saturated dark purple color is followed by a wine that is surprisingly lighter in the mouth than its great flavor intensity and rich extraction would suggest. It is a winemaking tour de force in that Guigal has been able to cram phenomenal levels of fruit, complexity and richness into this velvety-textured wine without causing it to taste heavy. It will be delicious when released, yet capable of lasting for 15 or more years. Readers should be getting in their reservations now for Guigal's 1991 single vineyard Cote Roties. In 1991, Cote Rotie enjoyed the most success of any appellation of France. The harvest was completed before the damaging rains arrived. Importer: Classic Wines, Boston, MA; Tel. (617) 731-6644

Complex and concentrated, this shows toast and vanilla oak flavors balanced by plenty of plum, berry and licorice notes; dense and long. Drink from 1998.--Guigal Cote-Rotie vertical. -TM