Maison Tardieu Laurent - Châteauneuf du Pape - Cuvée Spéciale

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Sensual and perfumed, this Cuvée once more stands apart, thanks to its refinement, its mellow tannins, its aromatic complexity… and thanks to an energy which goes beyond the standards. Definitely a “must keep” in your Cellars !
The vintage

Vintage 2021 was incontestably a thumb to the nose of the last “solar” vintages which we have seen recently in the Rhone Valley. Real 30 year flashback, typically reminiscent of more classical harvest dates in the Vindémiare calendar and phenolic maturity from the 90s..
Indeed, this vintage has given us, on all levels, a lot of emotions. Blame it on the particularly capricious weather conditions, sweet understatement!
Extreme frost episode from 7th to 9th April, with some temperatures nearing -10C, affected without exception almost all the French vineyards. Cataclysmic observations: the vine for more than 3 weeks was brain dead! Some vinegrowers thought they had l ost their ancestral heritage. Miraculously, nature took back control. But this was not without consequences. The vine stocks were deeply tilted, even unbalanced. The 2nd shoots were anarchic, the labour work extremely complicated.
Fortunately, the beneficial rains throughout the vegetative cycle, the moderate temperature in the summer and a beautiful late autumn enabled us to approach harvest season with serenity.
Like every year, nature decides for us. This is what makes this job beautiful and delicate. But undeniably, 2021 will remain forever the vintage of a great “vigneron” (vinegrower).

Terroir

Bas de la Crau.

Type of soil

Sand.

Ageing

12 months in two and three vintages barrels - Allier et Tronçais. Then 12 months in foudre.

Winemaking

100% non destemmed.

Serving

14°C
Decant 2 hours before tasting.

Tasting

Shaped like a Bourgogne ! Clear color, intense nose on the faded rose and the peony. The mouth is chiselled, quite in restraint. Worth forgetting for a good decade !

Alcohol content

14,5%

Bottling

Without fining and filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 99 %
Autre : 1 %

The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Spéciale is cut from the same cloth, with a beautiful perfume of black and blue fruits, pepper, Provençal garrigue, and liquid violets. This carries to a rich, concentrated, full-bodied Châteauneuf with a stacked mid-palate, gorgeous tannins, and a monster of a finish. I'm not sure 2021 gets better than this. Bravo.

Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck , 95/100 , 2023-10-30

Density builds in this compact red, with bitter cherry, red currant, mocha and steeped plum grounded by firm bolts of iron. Still tightly wound, with the tannins holding firm, while notes of tobacco leaf and meatiness bring a sanguine character. Very solid. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2026 through 2035. 550 cases made, 75 cases imported.

Wine Spectator , 94/100 , 2024-02-29