2021 Tardieu Laurent Chateauneuf Cuvee Speciale

Its Origins

Domaine Tardieu-Laurent was established in the Rhone Valley in 1994. It was originally a partnership between the dynamic young winemaker Michel Tardieu and one of the hottest names in Burgundy, Dominique Laurent. Today it is owned and run solely by Michel and his oenologist son Bastien Tardieu. Tardieu-Laurent is an extremely unusual operation in that they are a négociant only, buying wines in their raw state from growers all over the Rhône, which they mature and blend before bottling. They own no vineyards and don't buy grapes, only wine. But they are still very much an artisan or 'micro' negociant, making between just two and 20 barrels of each wine. The quality is unmatched due to the incredible fruit sources, critical to which are long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with a network of producers owning specific, top quality parcels. The Tardieus know the vineyards and parcels by heart, and most are extremely low-yielding old vines grown with biodynamic farming. Intervention is minimal with a focus on accurate translation of terroir and vintage. None of the wines are fined and only a few have a very light filtration. For years now Michel and Bastien have favoured large oak foudres, preferring slow, measured exposure to oxygen. The naturally-restricted volumes result in increased complexity and intensity. These are world-class wines which thoroughly deserve their international acclaim.