Glass-staining ruby. Sexy, floral- and spice-accented aromas of candied cherry, black raspberry and cola, with a subtle suggestion of vanilla in the background. Offers an array of lively red and dark fruit and floral pastille flavors that gain flesh and weight with aeration. Closer in style to the Mouline than the Landonne this year. Closes spicy and extremely long, with suave tannins and lingering sweetness.

While the 2008 Cote Rotie la Turque isn’t going to win any blind tastings, it’s a beautiful, elegant and classic Cote Rotie that’s a joy to drink. Giving up notes of smoked meats, blackcurrants, peppery herbs and olive tapenade, it has medium-bodied richness and a classy, elegant texture. It’s drinking at point today and should keep through at least 2023.

The 2008 Cote Rotie La Turque offers smoky, meaty barbecue notes intermixed with notions of roasted herbs, forest floor and coffee beans. Although lower-keyed and less well-endowed, it is an outstanding 2008, one of the finest wines of this challenging vintage in Cote Rotie.