Tardieu Laurent : Rasteau "Vieilles Vignes" 2022

A lush, modern style, offering a generous stream of violet, blackberry pâte de fruit and cherry notes that are silky and ripe. Graphite energy powers through the generous palate, with elements of grilled herbs and mesquite smoke hovering from start to finish. Opulent and nicely firmed up, this will have many fans. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now through 2028. 1,000 cases made, 150 cases imported.

A dense, fruit-driven and velvety red with aromas of dark cherries, wafers, warm herbs and some sweet spices. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Well structured and peppery with a compact and textured finish. Try after 2025.

I loved the 2022 Rasteau Vieilles Vignes, another ripe, concentrated, yet weightless and flawlessly balanced beauty from this genius of a winemaker. Ripe black cherries, black raspberries, roasted garrigue, black olive, and sappy spring flower notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium- to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a smoking good finish. This is pure Southern Rhône magic and brings incredible richness with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Drink this brilliant Rasteau over the coming 7–8 years.