E.Guigal Cote-Rotie La Turque, La Landonne, La Landonne MMXVI 2016 OWC3 0,75L

E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Collection – La Turque & La Landonne 2016

The Estate

Established in 1946 by Étienne Guigal, Maison E. Guigal has become synonymous with excellence in the Northern Rhône Valley. Under the visionary leadership of Marcel Guigal and now Philippe Guigal, the estate has elevated Côte-Rôtie from regional specialty to international icon. The Guigal family’s three single-vineyard ‘La La La’ wines—La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne—represent the holy trinity of Northern Rhône Syrah, each expressing a distinct facet of the appellation’s complex terroir.

Guigal’s approach combines traditional Côte-Rôtie winemaking with uncompromising quality standards: hand-harvesting from ancient, terraced vineyards; meticulous sorting; whole-cluster fermentation; and extended aging in 100% new French oak for up to 42 months. This extraordinary commitment to quality has earned consistent perfect scores from critics worldwide and cemented Guigal’s status as the reference point for Northern Rhône excellence. Robert Parker has called these wines ‘as profound as wine gets.’

The Legendary Côte-Rôtie: Where Syrah Reaches Its Zenith

La Landonne occupies the steepest, most sun-drenched slopes of the Côte Brune, where ancient schist soils rich in iron oxide create wines of monumental structure and exceptional longevity. The vineyard’s pure south-facing exposition and extreme gradient (some slopes exceed 55 degrees) produce Syrah of extraordinary concentration and masculine power. No Viognier is co-planted here, resulting in the purest, most austere expression of Syrah in the Guigal portfolio.

La Turque lies adjacent to La Landonne but benefits from unique geological diversity, with both schist and calcareous soils creating remarkable aromatic complexity. This 2.5-hectare jewel includes a small percentage of Viognier (7%), which is co-fermented with Syrah following traditional Côte-Rôtie methods. The wine combines La Landonne’s power with extraordinary opulence and floral elegance, representing the most sensual expression in the Guigal range.

Both vineyards feature vines averaging 50-80 years of age, trained on individual stakes and cultivated without herbicides or pesticides. The precipitous terraces require all work to be done by hand, with yields naturally restricted to 25-30 hectoliters per hectare. Harvest timing is critical—each parcel is picked at optimal phenolic maturity to capture both power and finesse. Extended oak aging in new Burgundian barrels allows the wines to integrate their massive structure while developing profound complexity.

The 2016 Vintage

The 2016 vintage in the Northern Rhône achieved legendary status, rivaling the great years of 2009, 2010, and 1999. An ideal growing season featured a mild winter, early budbreak, and a warm, dry summer that allowed for perfect ripening without water stress. September brought cool nights and warm days—the perfect conditions for developing aromatic complexity while preserving natural acidity.

For Côte-Rôtie specifically, 2016 delivered exceptional phenolic maturity with remarkable freshness, a combination that occurs perhaps once per decade. The wines show extraordinary concentration without heaviness, profound depth without losing elegance. Critics universally praised 2016 as a ‘perfect vintage’ for Northern Rhône Syrah, with Jeb Dunnuck awarding 100 points to both La Landonne and La Turque, calling them ‘immortal wines that will live for 50+ years.’ This is a vintage that collectors dream about—wines that will provide pleasure across multiple generations.

Tasting Experience

• La Landonne 2016 opens with profound, almost primal aromatics: blackcurrant liqueur, charred meat, espresso, and crushed graphite intertwine with smoke, black olive tapenade, and hints of cracked black pepper. Subtle notes of violet and crushed stone emerge with air, revealing the wine’s extraordinary complexity beneath its powerful exterior.
• The palate is monumental yet refined, displaying waves of concentrated cassis, blackberry compote, roasted coffee beans, and exotic spices wrapped in massive but velvety tannins. The structure is architectural—this is Syrah built for the ages, with every element in perfect balance. A saline minerality runs through the core, lifting the wine’s density and adding a sense of place that transcends mere fruit.
• La Turque 2016 offers a more opulent and immediately seductive profile: jammy black fruits, crème de cassis, toasted vanilla, and dark chocolate mingle with floral notes of iris, rose petal, and violet. The co-fermented Viognier adds ethereal aromatics and textural silkiness without diminishing the wine’s fundamental power.
• On the palate, La Turque reveals extraordinary depth and sensuality. Layers of blackberry, plum, licorice, and exotic spice unfold seamlessly, framed by perfectly integrated oak and refined tannins. The mid-palate is opulent yet focused, with remarkable persistence and a finish that extends for over a minute, revealing new dimensions with each wave: mocha, white pepper, smoked meat, truffle, and crushed minerals.
• Both wines showcase the extraordinary diversity possible within a single appellation, each expressing its terroir with laser-like precision. At seven years of age, these 2016s remain youthful titans—coiled springs of energy that will unfold majestically over the coming decades.

Service & Food Pairing

These are wines of profound complexity that demand patience and proper presentation. Decant for a minimum of 3-4 hours before serving, though opening 8-12 hours in advance (or even the day before) will reveal additional layers of nuance. Serve at 16-18°C in large, generous Burgundy-style glasses (Zalto Bordeaux or Riedel Sommeliers Burgundy Grand Cru) to maximize aromatic expression and textural elegance. The wines will continue to evolve dramatically in the glass over 2-3 hours, rewarding contemplative tasting sessions.

Exceptional pairings:

• Roasted game: wild boar, venison, or duck with cherry reduction
• Braised beef short ribs with black trumpet mushrooms and truffle jus
• Grilled Côte de Boeuf with bone marrow and café de Paris butter
• Rack of lamb with herbs de Provence and potato gratin
• Aged Comté (36+ months) or Époisses de Bourgogne
• Dark chocolate tart with cassis reduction (for La Turque specifically)

Cellaring & Evolution

The 2016 vintage, now seven years from harvest, remains in its youth and will evolve gracefully for 30-50 years in proper cellar conditions. These are ‘buy-and-forget’ wines for the next generation. While approachable now for those seeking immediate gratification (with extended decanting), the wines’ true magic will emerge after 2030, when primary fruit begins integrating with tertiary complexity: leather, tobacco, truffle, sous-bois, and profound mineral depth. Peak drinking windows: La Landonne 2030-2070, La Turque 2028-2065. Store horizontally in a temperature-controlled cellar at 12-14°C with 70% humidity, away from light and vibration. For collectors building a vertical, 2016 represents an essential vintage—one of the greatest expressions of Côte-Rôtie in modern history. The original wooden case ensures optimal provenance and enhances collectibility.