Tardieu Laurent Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Speciale 2017

Drink now through to 2035. No need to decant before serving.

This opulent Chateauneuf du Pape opens with an intense bouquet of cedar, crushed dark berries and cigar smoke while the first sip reveals a luscious full body, well-developed tannins and firm structure which will respond well to extended cellaring. On the palate the sophisticated flavour profile features hints of leather, dried Mediterranean herbs and wildflowers along with rich cassis, black cherry and plum.

This Cuvée Spéciale is one of the winery’s finest bottlings and is crafted from very low-yielding 80-100 year old Grenache vines planted on top quality sandy soils. The wine is produced in tiny quantities and matured in new French oak barrels for 12 months followed by a further 12 months in large oak casks or foudres.

Domaine Tardieu Laurent was founded in 1994 and does not own any vineyards, preferring to purchase top quality young wines from the southern and northern Rhone regions. The project was born out of a collaboration between Dominique Laurent who is famed for his exquisite Burgundies and up-and-coming winemaker Michel Tardieu. Working as a negociant allows the winery to buy the very finest wines each vintage and they insist on only purchasing from small producers who own old vines of at least 50 years.