Tardieu Laurent : Cuvée Spéciale 2014

A lively and aromatic Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wine

The estate

Passionate about both wine and terroirs, Michel Tardieu and his wife founded the Tardieu Laurent estate in 1996. Over the years, this estate has become an essential reference among the most beautiful wine bottlings in the Rhône Valley.

For two generations, this family estate has been enhancing the vineyards of many iconic appellations (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Hermitage, Vacqueyras, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, etc.) by producing aromatic and delicate wines, that are the result of a rigorous vinification process.

The vineyard

The Cuvée Spéciale 2014 by Tardieu Laurent is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine that stems from century-old vines planted in the "Bas de la Crau" terroir on predominantly sandy soils.

The vintage

A mild, rainy winter gave way to a dry spring which favoured an even budbreak. The weather conditions during summer were unusually cool and rainy, which lead to a strong disease pressure in the vineyard. In the southern part of the region, the first three weeks of September salvaged the vintage.

Vinification and ageing

The first 12 months of ageing in first and second-fill barrels is completed by a further 12 months of ageing in tuns.

The blend

Grenache (100%)

Tardieu Laurent’s Cuvée Spéciale 2014: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine seduces the senses with its fruity expression, its liveliness as well as its tannic structure which will reveal all its finesse after several years of ageing.

Service

For an optimal tasting experience, decant the wine two hours before serving and enjoy at a temperature of 14°C.