A stunning effort, the 2007 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Speciale was fashioned from 80-year old Grenache vines planted in the Coudoulet section, adjacent to Chateauneuf du Pape. It exhibits classic aromas of melted licorice and kirsch liqueur, full-bodied power, impressive concentration, and a layered texture. A traditionally-styled southern Rhone that tastes more like a Chateauneuf du Pape than a Cotes du Rhone, it should drink nicely for a decade or more. This wine is a super bargain. This partial look at the Tardieu-Laurent portfolio concentrates on the value-priced offerings from the southern Rhone. Michel Tardieu’s Chateauneuf du Papes were reviewed in issue #179.Importer: Wilson Daniels Ltd., St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661