Critic Scores
Not as impressive as it was the last time I tasted it (perhaps I caught it on an off day), the 2016 Cote Rotie La Turque is lighter in weight and less rich than the vintages either side of it. Attractive notes of cracked pepper and salted licorice accent crisp, dark-berried fruit in this medium to full-bodied effort that's still mighty impressive. It finishes elegantly, showing ample concentration and length.
Inky magenta. Candied cherry, blackcurrant, exotic spices, violet oil and a hint of olive on the powerfully scented nose. Velvety, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering palate-staining, mineral-laced black/blue fruit preserve, floral pastille, smoky bacon and spicecake flavors that open up steadily on the back half. Displays sharp delineation and a resonating floral note on a strikingly long finish that's framed by plush, rounded tannins.