Maison Tardieu-Laurent was founded in 1996 by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent, though for many years the business has been the exclusive domaine of the Tardieu family. Today, it is run by Michel, his son, Bastien, and daughter, Camille. When Michel started the business, he would ask the growers he worked with two questions: in their appellation, which producers' wines did they enjoy drinking and if they had some friends or producers with well-located, old vines who might be interested to work with him. The result is an extensive network of “partner vignerons” — farmers with whom the family have long-standing relationships, almost all of whom have enviable holdings of old vines in the northern and southern Rhône’s most prestigious appellations. Today, this word of mouth and handshake model is still how the family conducts their business.

Tardieu-Laurent's Cuvée Spéciale Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge is a blend of 99% Grenache (over 100+ years old) completed with other permittable varietals. The Cuvée Spéciale goes through 100% whole cluster fermentation, is aged 12 months in 2nd and 3rd use barrels, then 12 months in Austrian foudre, before it is bottled, unfined and unfiltered. This wine is intensely aromatic with brooding aromas of dark blue and black berry fruits that mingle with notes of purple flowers, Asian five spice and black pepper. The full-bodied palate displays a profusion of concentrated, ripe fruits (blackberries, plums and cassis) which are complemented with accents of licorice and savory herbs. The power and intensity of the wine is impeccably balanced by a filigree acidity, subtle minerality and seductively polished tannins, a telltale sign of its aging potential. The finish is clean, smooth and seemingly endless. Drink tonight or any night over the next 10+ years.