Maison Tardieu-Laurent - Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent founded this prestigious winery in the early 1990s, establishing themselves as one of the finest micro-negociants in the Rhône Valley. Today, Bastien and Michel Tardieu travel throughout the vineyards to source the finest grapes, typically from very old vines, often located in the historic heart of each appellation. A real transformation has taken place in recent vintages: large-capacity casks, whole-cluster vinification for certain cuvées, and—above all—more measured aging have raised the already excellent quality to an even higher level. A sure bet in the region.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

A wine enthusiast, Michel Tardieu teamed up with Dominique Laurent, the brilliant Burgundian wine merchant and winemaker, to start a small wine trading business about ten years ago. Michel Tardieu is unrivaled when it comes to unearthing cuvées from old vines across all the Rhône appellations; add to that Dominique Laurent’s expertise in aging, with his magnificent barrels, and you have a dynamic duo that crafts the most extraordinary cuvées in the Rhône.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Hints of vanilla and cedar define the nose of the 2018 Cuvee Speciale Châteauneuf du Pape, accompanied by vibrant raspberries, notes of orange zest, salty licorice, and garrigue. It is refreshing and complex when compared to other T-L Châteauneufs, medium-bodied to full-bodied and concentrated without being hot or heavy, yet richly textured with a long finish.

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The fruit is precise—what a fresh, juicy character! The oak is perfectly balanced, and the spices add complexity. The palate has lovely depth, coating the mouth without being overpowering, and its power builds with class.

About the estate:

This small, high-end wine merchant was founded in the early 1990s by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent in the Rhône Valley. Thanks to exceptional sources and a keen understanding of winemaking and aging, Michel Tardieu produces a consistent range of wines with a modern sensibility. This leading wine merchant, with carefully selected sources in both the southern and northern parts of the Rhône Valley, has been awarded its second star this year.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Medium purple. A lively nose with real energy. Round and smooth, with a distinctly Burgundian character. Such a charmer! Excellent balance between fruit and acidity, with a refined character. Bravissimo. A true tour de force. Concentration, body, and elegance. More dense than this producer’s generic 2018 Châteauneuf.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Grown on sandy soils and made from un-destemmed grapes, the 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale comes from the western part of the La Crau vineyard and was aged in a combination of barrels and large oak casks. It offers incredible notes of black cherries, blueberries, and ground pepper, along with rich hints of meat and cured meats, as well as a powerful, opulent style that is nonetheless concentrated and well-balanced on the palate. Made almost entirely from Grenache (with a touch of other varieties), it is a brilliant wine full of personality.