Tardieu-Laurent Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage Blanc 2022 750ml

Absolutely sensational stuff and reminding me of a great vintage from Jean-Louis Chave, the 2022 Hermitage Blanc reveals a light gold hue as well as a heavenly nose of ripe quince, honeyed white flowers, grilled bread, citrus oil, and anise that's to die for. Full-bodied, opulent, and powerful on the palate, it has laser-like precision, a multi-dimensional, seamless mouthfeel, a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, and a monster of a finish. I absolutely love it today, yet it should have 20-30 years of longevity, with the caveat that predicting the evolution of these concentrated, powerful dry whites from Hermitage is always difficult. Drink 2025-2045.

Classic notes of quince, crushed stone, honeysuckle, toasted bread, marzipan, and white flowers emerge from the 2019 Hermitage Blanc, a rich, full-bodied white with a dense mid-palate, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is head-turning stuff that has some up-front approachability, yet its tight, backward, concentrated core of fruit suggests that 2–3 years of bottle age are warranted, and it’s going to keep for 30 years or more. (Jeb Dunnuck)

A dense, balanced, intense and well-built Hermitage Blanc with aromas of baked apples, pears, cooked lemons, wild herbs, flowers and sweet spices. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a dense center-palate. Textural and flavorful with plenty of drive. Spicy and vivid in the long, driven finish. Drink or hold.

Rich and broad, this opulent version seduces with a mix of creamed peach, singed orange peel and juicy mango, plus a generous robe of toasted brioche. Shows plenty of savory contrast, with bitter herbs, fresh pine and cooling minerality coursing through. Power builds toward the honeyed, lemon-zested finish. A hedonist's wine in all the best ways. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2032. 400 cases made, 50 cases imported.

A rich and showy wine, with singed brioche and salted butter notes leading off, followed by creamed yellow apple, mirabelle plum, melon and mango notes all mixed together. The finish features a buttery hint, with an echo of macadamia nut. One for the hedonist crowd. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2024. 400 cases made, 5 cases imported. (James Molesworth)