The debut vintage for this wine was especially impressive in view of the fact that the vineyard was so young. The 1985 La Turque's color remains a dark purple, with no signs of amber or lightening. The nose explodes from the glass, revealing scents of jammy black fruits, licorice, lead pencil, and smoke. Sweet, thick, highly concentrated flavors contain enough acidity and soft wood tannin to give the wine a well-focused feel. This prodigiously endowed, rich wine should continue to evolve and offer accessible drinking for another 15+ years. Anticipated maturity: now-2012. Last tasted 8/96.

The first vintage of La Turque. Lush and haunting, this is vivid with blueberry, plum, vanilla and floral notes. Amazing concentration considering the vines were planted in 1981. Drink now through 2010.--Guigal Cote-Rotie vertical. -TM