Tardieu Laurent : Cuvée Spéciale 2021

A full-bodied and precise red wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The estate

Passionate about wine and terroirs, Michel Tardieu created in 1996 with his wife the estate Tardieu Laurent which over the vintages has become an essential reference among the most beautiful wine labels of the Rhône Valley.

For two generations, this family estate has magnified the terroirs of emblematic appellations (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Hermitage, Vacqueyras, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage ...) through aromatic and delicate wines resulting from rigorous vinification.

The vineyard

The Cuvée Spéciale from Tardieu Laurent is a wine from the Rhône Valley made from century-old vines, planted within the "Bas de la Crau" terroir on predominantly sandy soils.

The vintage

In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the 2021 vintage is a departure from recent sunny vintages. It evokes the harvests of yesteryear, with phenolic maturities reminiscent of the 90s. Marked by capricious weather, it will remain etched as a year of challenges and strong emotions. The April frost episode, of rare intensity, hit the entire French vineyard, jeopardizing the harvests and disrupting the vegetative cycle. Despite weakened vines and complicated viticultural work, nature was able to recover, supported by regular rains, a moderate summer and an ideal late season. 2021 thus stands out as a vintage of resilience, where the talent of the winemakers was decisive. A year that celebrates the demand and know-how, inscribing this vintage among those of the great wine craftsmen.

Vinification and aging

The initial aging of 12 months in barrels of two and three wines is complemented by an additional aging of 12 months in foudre.

Blend

Grenache (99%)
Other (1%).

Characteristics and tasting advice for the 2021 Cuvée Spéciale from Tardieu Laurent

Tasting

Color
The color is clear and limpid.

Nose
Intense, the nose exhales fragrances of faded rose and peony.

Palate
The palate seduces with its precision.

Service

For optimal tasting, decant the wine two hours before tasting it at a temperature of 14°C.

Storage

This wine from the Rhône Valley can wait in the cellar for another ten years in order to exhale all its aromatic nuances.