Maison Tardieu Laurent - Hermitage 2012

While the trend among most high-profile producers of premium wines in recent decades has been to secure their own vineyards, rather than buy their grapes—to better control factors affecting quality during the growing season—the intricate art of the négociant should not go unappreciated. These resourceful and inventive entrepreneurs roam the regions in which they operate, identifying the best vineyards—properties that, in many cases, belong to small growers who lack the means to produce and sell their own wines—and negotiating contracts to purchase fruit. Michel Tardieu is one of the most gifted négociants in France’s Rhône region, particularly in Châteauneuf-du-Pape—famous for its reds—where he has demonstrated his talent for discovering old vines. Yet he also has a way with white wine. His Tardieu-Laurent 2012 Hermitage Blanc exhibits a decadently rich, oleaginous texture laced with flavors of honeydew melon, apple, toasted almond, nutmeg, and beeswax.

Brett Anderson
Robb Report , 2015-07-15

Golden color; lush mineral nose; silky and rich with lovely vanilla and creamy style; elegant and delicate with amazing depth and subtle fruit; long and seamless with exquisite finesse. 80% Marsanne, 20% Rousanne.

Anthony Dias Blue
The Tasting Panel , 95/100 , 2015-02-18

Gorgeous creamed pineapple, yellow apple and Cavaillon melon flavors glide along, with sweetened butter and honeysuckle accents underscoring the finish. A hedonist’s delight, with beautiful mouthfeel and a beguiling display of fruit.

James Molesworth
Wine Spectator , 95/100 , 2015-02-18

Bright yellow. Intensely perfumed aromas of dried pear, tangerine, candied fig and white flowers, with a hint of iodine coming up slowly. Smooth, sappy and expansive on the palate, offering intense, mineral-laced orchard and pit fruit flavors and a touch of smokiness. Finishes very long and velvety, with outstanding clarity and building spiciness.

Josh Raynolds
Vinous , 93/100 , 2015-02-01

Vivid yellow-gold. Exotic aromas of orange marmalade, nectarine, chamomile and smoky minerals. Restrained and stony on entry, then deeper and more expansive with air, offering powerful orchard and pit fruit flavors underscored by dusty minerality. Dry, focused and chewy on the gripping, mineral-dominated finish.

Josh Raynolds
Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar , 92/100 , 2014-03-01

Light nose for the moment. Some strong herbal notes but none of the drama of, say, a Chapoutier or Chave. It's all restraint for the moment. I'd guess grown on some of the lighter, less marked soils? A refreshing white Hermitage? Definitely needs time.

Jancis Robinson , 17/20 , 0013-01-04