"The owners of this high quality firm are Michael Tardieu, who sources the wines, and Dominique Laurent, the well known Burgundy winemaker... The wines are made according to minimalist theories. After purchasing finished wines from growers who only possess old vines and tiny yields, the wines are transferred by Tardieu to oak barrels made to the specifications of Dominique Laurent. They spend two years, virtually untouched, in oak. Sulphur additions are minimal. There is no racking of the wines and the bottling is accomplished without fining or filtration. This is what is known as reductive winemaking, and these brilliant efforts capture the essence of their particular appellations. Moreover they possess tremendous upside aging potential.... Bottom line this is an extraordinary source of top quality wines." Robert Parker

Hermitage
1998 $77.99 limited
"The superb 1998 Hermitage reveals a saturated purple color in addition to classic, pure, cassis aromas intermixed with smoke and licorice. Full-bodied and pure, with nicely integrated acidity and tannin, this corpulent, super-concentrated Hermitage requires 3-7 years of cellaring, and will keep for 20-25 years." 91-93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #125
1996 $74.99 very limited
"The 1996 Hermitage is a wine of massive richness, extraordinary purity, and enormous potential. The saturated opaque purple color is followed by a youthful, unevolved bouquet of tar, cassis, blackberries, and stones. Superb in the mouth, with full body, fabulous richness, and a layered, multi-dimensional personality, it is another tour de force in winemaking, but it requires 7-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025." 93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #121

Cote Rotie
1998 $84.99 limited
"An amazing effort is the 1998 Cote Rotie, which comes from three hillside vineyards - La Landonne, Les Grandes Places, and Cote Rozier. The wine's dark purple color is followed by an explosive, exotic bouquet of bacon fat, cherry liqueur, black olives, roasted meats, and toasty wood. This expressive, voluptuously-textured, full-bodied, powerful, concentrated Cote Rotie reveals some tannin in the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020." 94-96 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #125
1997 $79.99 limited
"Saturated ruby-purple. Vibrant, spicy aromas of black fruits, smoked meat, cocoa powder and granitic stoniness. Impressively dense and ripe yet quite suave, with compelling inner-mouth perfume of violet and black licorice. Finishes with fine tannins and a note of dark chocolate. One of the Cote-Rotie stars of the vintage. 92 1/2-00
1996 $74.99 limited
"The 1996 reveals a high degree of maturity, and less acidity than other northern Rhones. The grapes for this cuvee all came from Cote Brune vineyards, particularly Les Grandes Places and La Landonne. The wine includes a small percentage of Viognier in the blend, although I did not detect it in the aromatics or flavors. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, with an olive, cassis, and smoky-scented nose, lush, ripe, medium to full-bodied flavors, sound acidity, and a plush, succulent, velvety-textured finish. This wine should be forward for a Cote Rotie, and last for 10-15 years." 89-91 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #113

Cornas Vieilles Vignes
1996 $54.99 very limited
"The 1996 Cornas Vieilles Vignes boasts a saturated black/purple color, as well as a nose of liquid minerals and blackberry fruit. Massive in the mouth, with little acidity, meaty, leathery components, huge body, and moderate tannin, the acidity seems low, but maybe the level of concentration is higher. This mammoth Cornas should be cellared for 3-4 years; it will keep for two decades." 95 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #121

Cornas Coteaux
1999 $54.99 very limited
"The black/purple-colored 1999 Cornas Coteaux exhibits powerful, smoky, earthy, concentrated flavors of black fruits, Grave-like scorched earth, and melted asphalt. Full-bodied, powerful, and muscular, this 1999 will be at its finest between 2005-2015." 90-92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #133
1998 $54.99 very limited
"The black/purple-colored 1998 Cornas Coteaux possesses noteworthy creme de cassis aromas meshed with smoke and toasty wood. Obviously made from low yields, it is a rustic, tannic, backward wine that will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring. It will keep for 12-15 years. If the tannin becomes better integrated, it will come close to meriting an outstanding rating." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #125
1997 $54.99 limited
"The 1997 Cornas Cuvee Coteaux exhibits a saturated black color, as well as a fabulous nose of melted licorice, acacia flowers, jammy cassis, minerals, and smoke. In the mouth, roasted meat and jus de viande characteristics, as well as lush tannins emerge in this superb, full-bodied, succulent Cornas. The barrique aging undoubtedly helps tame some of the rustic, coarse tannin frequently found in the wines from this appellation. Look for this Cornas to age nicely for 10-15+ years." 90-92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #121

St Joseph
1999 $38.99 limited
"Heavily toasted, international-styled red, but it works pretty well because the ripe fruit is beautiful and keeps the wine balanced. Medium-bodied, with some tar, plum and toasted bread notes. The wood tannins clamp down on the finish. Drink now through 2006. 500 cases made." 11/15/02
1997 $34.99 very limited
1996 $29.99 very limited

Crozes Hermitage
1999 $33.99 very limited
1997 $31.99 limited
1996 $33.99 limited
"The 1996 Crozes-Hermitage exhibits an opaque black/purple color, and crisp acidity in its powerful flavors that are crammed with minerals, black fruits, and smoke. Made from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare from well-established vineyards in the Mercurol area of the appellation, the wine possesses copious tannin in the long, tight finish. This Crozes-Hermitage will require 2-3 years of cellaring when released, but it is capable of lasting for 15-16 years." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #113

Bandol Vieilles Vignes
1999 $42.99 limited
1998 $42.99 limited
1997 $39.99 limited

Chateauneuf-du-Pape
1999 $56.99 limited
"The 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape, which comes from the northwestern sector known as Gres, is a succulent, hedonistic fruit bomb made from primarily Grenache with a bit of Syrah included. Full-bodied, with low acidity, a thick, unctuous texture, high alcohol, and a blast of kirsch liqueur and spice, this multilayered Chateauneuf should drink well when released and last for 15 years." 91-94 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #131
1998 $57.99 very limited
"Medium ruby. Crushed blackberry, kirsch and leather on the port-like nose. Huge, powerful, deep and roasted; extravagantly roasted flavors of surmaturite Combines uncanny density with rock-solid acid and tannin structure. Finishes with compelling persistence and late hints of leather and bitter chocolate. 93 1/2-01
1997 $49.99 very limited
250 cases made "When it comes to decadently rich, full throttle southern Rhone wines, the 1997 Chateauneuf du Pape satisfies those criteria. A star of the vintage for the appellation, it is a shapely, full-bodied, voluptuously-textured wine bursting with black raspberry fruit intermixed with kirsch liqueur, pepper, cedar, and roasted herb scents and flavors. There is tremendous viscosity and length, as well as low acidity in this full-flavored, expansive, super-concentrated Chateauneuf. It should drink well for 10-15 years." 91-94 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #121

Gigondas
1999 $42.99 limited
"Full ruby. Dark aromas of cassis, violet and roasted nuts. Juicy, precise flavors of black cherry, flowers and minerals; the syrah and Mourvedre components give the wine lift and refinement. Finishes with fine tannins and subtle persistence. I like this!" 91(+?) 1/2-02
1998 $41.99 very limited
"The dark ruby/purple-colored 1998 Gigondas is a very good, spicy, elegant, restrained offering with abundant berry fruit intermixed with soil and spicy wood scents. Medium-bodied, beautifully concentrated, ripe, and well-balanced, it should drink well for a decade." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #125
1997 $39.99 very limited
"The outstanding 1997 Gigondas possesses notes of sur-maturite, jammy blackberry liqueur-like notes in both its aromatics and flavors, a superb, full-bodied texture, spectacular concentration, and no evidence of wood from its barrique aging. This wine is sensationally long, luscious, and hedonistic." 90-92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #121
1996 $34.99 very limited
"The super, saturated purple-colored 1996 Gigondas offers thick, juicy aromas of sur-maturite, kirsch liqueur, and black raspberry jam. Full-bodied and supple, with lots of elegance and little weight, this spicy, pure, concentrated Gigondas is already drinking well, and should age for 15 years." 90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #121

Vacqueyras
1997 $31.99 very limited
"Medium-bodied, with black fruit, light tannins and toasted oak and mocha flavors. Turns quite chewy and interesting on the finish. Drink now through 2002. 165 cases made." 12/15/99

Cairanne Vieilles Vignes
1996 $29.99 very limited
"The black-colored 1996 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne Old Vines is impressive. Produced from 100% old vine Grenache, and aged 15 months in 100% new oak casks, this wine reveals little evidence of wood! It exhibits a gorgeous, exotic nose of blackberries intermixed with Asian spices, smoked olives, roasted meats, and pure cherry jam. Rich, unctuously-textured, thick, and full-bodied, this opulent wine displays none of the tell-tale pain grille, vanillin of new oak casks - that's how rich and concentrated it is. This low acid, spectacularly-layered wine is undoubtedly one of the finest Cairanne I have ever tasted. It should drink well for 10-15 years." 92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #121

Cotes du Rhone
1999 $27.99 limited
1996 $24.99 limited

Vin de Pays d'Oc le Grand Augustin
1999 $14.99 available
"There are just under 7,000 cases of the remarkable 1999 Les Grands Augustins. This wine, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, exhibits a black/purple color in addition to a straightforward bouquet of creme de cassis, licorice, and minerals. With a long, full-bodied, gorgeously-textured mid-palate and finish, it should drink well for 5-7 years." 89 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #131
1998 $12.99 limited