Coudert 2023 Fleurie Clos de la Roilette 'Cuvée Tardive'

(Pre-Arrival) We have had the pleasure of tasting every vintage of Alain Coudert's "Cuvée Tardive since it's creation in 1994 (or was it 1995?) and the 2023 is certainly one of the best! This was another hot, dry vintage but with rains in July and August that brought balance to this ripe and quite full-bodied wine. From average 80 year-old vines in clay with manganese in addition to granite soils near Moulin-A-Vent, fermentation in whole clusters with native yeasts in open-top, neutral wood vats with the cap kept submerged; the maceration for Tardive is approximately 18 days, aging takes place in old foudres.  The 2023 shows a dark black/red color, with astonishing aromas of ripe cassis and black cherry with bitter mocha, violet, licorice, earth and smoke. The palate is deep and velvety with black cherry, blackberry and strawberry liqueur, licorice and spice, backed by firm acidity and gritty mineral flavors.  While the wine is ripe and supple enough to drink young with a long decant, it will repay a few years of aging and should be very interesting in 2030 to 2035+