Tardieu Laurent : Côte-Rôtie "Vieilles Vignes" 2018

Laced with floral and spicy-savory notes, the 2018 Cote Rotie Vieilles Vignes delivers a solid base of elegant mixed-berry flavors. It's medium to full-bodied and velvety on the palate, where it adds hints of mocha and olive, layers of ripe tannins, and a lengthy, gently tannic finish. Despite the structure, it's approachable now and should drink well for at least a decade.

This has a gorgeous core of velvety cassis and steeped plum fruit inlaid deeply with a cast-iron spine, while violet and dark olive notes skitter through. Ends with a long, smoldering finish. Best from 2022 through 2034. 500 cases made, 10 cases imported.

This is an ambitious style; concentrated with considerable oak influence but tempered by the use of whole bunches and the lack of overt toast on the barrels. It’s a compelling wine that is very well balanced with ripe tannins and a distinct classicism of style alongside a long, sappy, sapid finish. A blend of Côte-Brune terroirs, old vines. No destemming, matured for a year in new and second-use Tronçais oak barriques, then for a further year in Stockinger foudres.

A superb palette showing pepper and violet notes; whole-cluster fermentation brings freshness and depth. The oak adds a touch of sweetness but is by no means intrusive. The palate is dense and delivers high-quality juice: full, wrapped with fine tannins—a serious wine capable of aging well.

Violet candies and pristine black plums abound in this perfumed Syrah sourced entirely from the darker, clay-based sites of the Côte Brune. Vinified in whole bunches with no destemming, it's intensely ripe but upright and fresh on its feet. Spicy and smoky on the midpalate, it finishes with a soft coating of cocoa powder tannins. Beautiful already in its youth but should develop greater intensity and complexity of perfume through 2040.