There are two cuvees of Cornas produced by Tardieu-Laurent. Lovers of Cornas must try and find a few bottles of the extraordinary 1995 Cornas Vieilles Vignes. Seventy-five cases of this wine were produced from the same vineyard parcels as the 1996. No SO2 was added to the wine, and it was bottled without fining or filtration. The Vieilles Vignes, which is slightly lower in alcohol (12.8%) than the Coteaux cuvee, is one of the most fabulous Cornas I have tasted. The color is a dense black/purple, and the nose offers up a fabulous array of sweet cassis aromas intermingled with tar, smoke, and floral scents. Amazingly rich, with mutiple layers of concentrated flavors, this is a wine of extraordinary depth, ripeness, and intensity. While it possesses enough fat and sweetness to be accessible, it should drink well for 18-20 years. Fortunate buyers of this wine should have the discipline to cellar it for 4-5 years. As a postscript, readers should be aware that all the Tardieu-Laurent wines reviewed in this segment are very reasonably priced. A Patrick Lesec Selection (Paris fax # 011 33 1 42843822), various American importers

Amazing for its polish, its class and its great rose petal, floral, cassis and spicy combination. It's so supple, ripe and rich, it has an ethereal quality to it, unfolding its refined, flowery and delicious fruit flavors into a long, seamless finish. Brilliant. Bravo! Tempting now. Best after 2000. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 75 cases made.??–null??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Cornas Select to Add