Rhone Valley
France’s Rhone Valley has two climates. The Northern Rhone’s steeper river-side slopes are up near chilly Burgundy. Here Syrah is the lone red grape and ripens slowly into its supreme expression in classics like Hermitage: intense but lighter-bodied, spicy and ethereal. Flowing south the landscape flattens out, opening to the baking Mediterranean. Down here Syrah revealed fuller, meatier aspects but ended up playing second fiddle (with Mourvèdre et al) to the even more sun-loving grape, Grenache. The softness and body of Grenache fills and sweetens most Southern Rhone blends, from basic Cotes du Rhone (mostly Southern) to village classics like Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Rosés like Tavel. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne remain at home in the North but can mix with grapes like Grenache Blanc and Clairette in the Southern Rhone's blanc wines.
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2019 Tardieu Laurent Cairanne Les Lauzieres
John Caro
A delicious Cotes du Rhone from the region's rising star negociants, Tardieu Laurent. This Cru red from Cairanne comes under Tardieu's sub-label "Les lauzieres", for a more modest price. With ... read more$29.99 in mixed 6+ or $33.99 per bottle -
2018 Tardieu Laurent Old Vine Rasteau
John Caro
Lush and polished, this Rasteau is delicious right out of the box. Leading the blend is fruit from Grencahe vines 80 years old, wrapping a generous texture around darker fruit and chocolatey ... read more$39.99 in mixed 6+ or $44.99 per bottle -
2018 Soumade Rasteau Cuvee Confiance
John Caro
From vines up to 100 years old, this is a very special cuvee by a Rasteau-based specialists. From the village Soumade know so well, the Cuvee Confiance is another step up in concentration and ... read more$44.99 in mixed 6+ or $49.99 per bottle -
2018 Tardieu Laurent Crozes Hermitage Old Vine
John Caro
A classic Syrah from old vines in the Northern Rhone. These 60 year old vines grow near Hermitage, the celebrated home of Syrah. The delicious result is a glimpse at this greatness in a ... read more$49.99 in mixed 6+ or $55.99 per bottle -
2018 Tardieu Laurent Saint Joseph Old Vine
John Caro
A serious Saint Joseph from granite soils, in a Northern Rhone sub-region much beloved by Tardieu. Their old vine St Jospeh is intense but precise, with powerful black and blue fruit, florals ... read more$55.99 in mixed 6+ or $62.99 per bottle -
2016 Xavier Vins Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge
Parker's Wine Advocate
A lush Chateaneuf from one of Chateauneuf's most respected consultant winemakers, Xavier Vignon. He has superb sources of fruit — but none of the costs of having his own vineyards — and ... read more$59.99 in mixed 6+ or $66.99 per bottle -
2018 Tardieu Laurent Cornas Coteaux
Wine Enthusiast
A delicious Syrah from distinctive Northern Rhone locale. The Coteaux was drawn from vines of 60-100 years, where dominance of the Serine clone offers an aromatic precision and savoury egde to ... read more$64.99 in mixed 6+ or $72.99 per bottle -
2017 Tardieu Laurent Cote Rotie Vielles Vignes
Antonio Galloni's Vinous
A "glamorous and ambitious" Syrah by a Rhone superstar. Tardieu often rate this at the "very top" of their Northern Rhone range, these low yielding old vines in premium Cote Rotie terroir ... read more$105.00 in mixed 6+ or $120.00 per bottle -
2017 Tardieu Laurent Hermitage
Antonio Galloni's Vinous
Sublime Syrah from the home of the grape in one the great vintages. Tardieu's iridescent Hermitage comes from mainly Serine Syrah vines of 60 years old. It combines incredible power with supreme ... read more$110.00 in mixed 6+ or $125.00 per bottle -
2018 Domaine Janasse Chateauneuf Chaupin
John Caro
A supremely graceful old vine Chateauneuf from Janasse that will drink now or improve for decades. A unique drop from the renowned Sabon Family, this cuvee is composed of 100% Grenache from very ... read more$110.00 in mixed 6+ or $125.00 per bottle