Maison Laurent Tardieu - Châteauneuf du Pape 2015

As to the reds, all of these show beautiful purity of fruit and impeccably made profiles. As a whole, 2015 was consistent throughout the Southern Rhône, and you see that consistency in this lineup. The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Classique (85% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and the rest Syrah) will spend 22 months in a combination of barrels and foudres. Coming from the Gardiole, la Crau and Bois Dauphin lieux-dits, it gives up beautiful jammy blackberries, garrigue and crushed flowers, with a broad, expansive and sexy style on the palate.

Jeb Dennuck
Wine Advocate , 90-93/100 , 2016-11-01

Dark ruby with a pale rim. Broad and warm, quite evolved, on the nose. Approachable already in a rose-petal sort of wine! Very new-wave Grenache – the Pinot side of the grape. Very charming. This won’t be released until autumn 2017 but I could drink it this evening, even though there is no shortage of very fine tannins on the end.

Jancis Robinson
Jancis Robinson , 17/20 , 2016-10-14

Bright ruby-red. Intensely perfumed raspberry and cherry liqueur scents, accompanied by potpourri and Asian spice nuances and a smoky mineral nuance that builds in the glass. Juicy and appealingly sweet, displaying lively red fruit and floral pastille flavors and a supple, seamless texture. Smoothly balances richness and vivacity and shows an attractive light touch. Finishes long and minerally, with smooth, harmonious tannins and a subtle echo of candied flowers.

Josh Raynolds
Vinous , 91-93/100 , 2016-12-31

Rock-solid, with a core of kirsch, raspberry coulis and bitter plum fruit liberally laced with brambly grip, strong oolong tea and dried star anise notes. Shows a lovely tug of tar at the very end. Still very coiled up. For the cellar.

Wine Spectator , 95/100

Des notes beurrées à l'ouverture. La bouche se montre dense, avec un fruit un peu en retrait et un élevage qui doit encore se fondre.

La Revue du Vin de France