Inky ruby. Sexy, oak-spiced aromas of cherry-vanilla, woodsmoke, olive tapenade and potpourri. Then sappy, energetic and youthfully lithe, with excellent verve to its black and blue fruit compote, violet and candied licorice flavors. This youthfully taut, focused wine finishes very long and vibrant, with firm minerality and lingering dark fruit notes. (JR)

Founded in 1994 by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent, Maison Tardieu Laurent is today overseen by Michel Tardieu and his oenologist son, Bastien. A négociant only operation, it buys specific parcels of young wines from growers, which it blends and matures itself prior to bottling. This 100% Syrah wine is sourced from vines over 50 years old on Côte Rôtie's Côte Brune, and is aged in new barrels from Tronçais and Allier oak, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. (Panel Tasting)

A blend from La Landonne, Chavaroche, Rozier and Les Rochains apparently with an average age of more than 50 years, billed as ‘reminiscent of the great Côte Rôtie of yesteryear!’ Mid to dark crimson. Rather heavier than the Côte Rôtie norm; arguably more Guigal than Jamet. Big and blustering; persuades more by mass than by finesse. Lots of still very awkward tannins on the finish. Bone dry but there is nothing ethereal about this. Very drying finish. 17/20 points (JR)