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B-21 Top Recommendation
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From an excellent Rhône vintage boasting “a wealth of beautiful wines” according to Jeb Dunnuck, these top-scoring 2020 Tardieu Laurent selections offer Rhône fans and collectors a bounty of outstanding values, meticulously crafted by legendary négociant winemaker Michel Tardieu and his son from low-yielding, old vines throughout the Southern Rhône.
The elegant 92-point 2020 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes is “full-bodied, smooth, well balanced and harmonious” according to Decanter’s Matt Walls, while Jeb Dunnuck calls the 2020 Rasteau Vieilles Vignes a “ripe, textured, textbook Rasteau to enjoy over the coming decade,” both wines mostly Grenache from 60-year-old vines with 20% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah from 40-year-old vines. Described as “a showstopper” by Dunnuck that's not to be missed, the 95-point 2020 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes offers rich, concentrated fruit scented with classic garrigue, a blend of mostly Grenache with 5% Mourvèdre from vines ranging up to 100 years and 5% Syrah over 40 years of age, while from the North, the “full-bodied, richly textured” 100% Syrah, 93-point 2020 Tardieu Laurent Cornas comes from vines ranging from 60 to 100 years old, both promising to age gracefully over the next decade and beyond. The muscular 95-point 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes comes from Grenache vines ranging from 80 to 100 years of age and Mourvedre and Syrah from 60 to 80 years and is “incredibly impressive” according to Dunnuck.
With a challenging 2021 vintage following on its heels, Rhône fans and collectors can rely on these top-rated, impeccably sourced, old-vine selections to overdeliver value, this full range of gems represents a terrific opportunity to stock up on a sure thing from a master of Rhône terroir at unbeatable bargain pricing. |
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The 2020 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes has a kiss of background oak as well as more exotic, lifted notes of black and blue fruits, incense, and orange blossom. It's medium to full-bodied, has a wonderful core of fruit, and just a forward, mouth-filling style perfect for enjoying over the coming 7-8 years.
92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2022)
Detailed and fresh, with flecks of candied raspberry, damson and baking spices. Full-bodied, smooth, well balanced and harmonious, this is classically Vacqueyras in character, with a little added polish. The alcohol is high, but this is nonetheless very good.
92 points, Matt Walls, Decanter (Sep 2021)
A harmonious wine, with baked cherry, red licorice and macerated plum interwoven with wet brick, chalky minerals and wild fresh rosemary, all supported by a frame of fine-grained tannins. Drinking beautifully now. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2026. 650 cases made, 175 cases imported.
90 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator
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