The saturated black/purple-colored 2000 Cornas Vieilles Vignes (from 100-year old vines) boasts a superb nose of blackberry fruit intermixed with graphite, earth, and minerals. It is spicy, with moderately high tannin, sweet fruit, and abundant glycerin as well as extract. It will be at its peak between 2006-2016. The gregarious, talented Michel Tardieu was exceptionally enthusiastic about his 2000 southern Rhones, but decidedly less impressed with those from the north. His criticism mirrored those of other serious producers, namely that there were too many grapes, and that the high yields made it nearly impossible to achieve great richness unless there was draconian crop thinning, something many producers were not prepared to do given the fact it was a millennium vintage. While the 2000 Tardieu-Laurent offerings are excellent for the vintage, they are significantly less concentrated and textured compared to the awesome 1999s. Importers: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808 and Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029

Good intensity in this medium-bodied, modern-style red, packed with black fruit, toasted aromas, earthy, roasted meat character. The plum notes marry nicely with the toasted oak flavors on the finish. Drink now through 2007. 300 cases made, 75 cases imported.??–PM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Cornas Select to Add