The 2006 Crozes-Hermitage Vieilles Vignes is a beauty, showing plenty of black olive, cassis, and licorice notes, medium to full body, gorgeous fruit, soft tannin, and decent acidity. This wine should drink beautifully for 7-8 years. This high-quality negociant operation, started by Burgundian Dominique Laurent and his southern sidekick, the charismatic Michel Tardieu, continues to turn out high-class wines from purchased wine. Front man Michel Tardieu seems to know some of the finest growers in the Rhone, and he is willing to pay top dollar in order to get the stuff he wants. Importers: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808 and Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029