2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence

Laurence Féraud described the 2012 wines as "a lot like 2010 in terms of fruit but their tannins are on the softer side." She believes, as a number of her neighbors do, that they'll be at their best before the '10s, wines she says "should just be forgotten for a long time, like the '05s." The greater--and necessary--emphasis on "darker" grapes in 2013 means that wines from this vintage will most likely be ageworthy, she thinks, but she wonders if fans of "traditional" Châteauneuf will be all that crazy for many of them, at least in the near term, because of the smaller-than-usual Grenache presence in the wines.

I've noticed that the wines here seem a bit more polished in recent years, which should come as good news to those who have found them rustic in the past. But make no mistake: these are traditionally made Châteauneufs that will likely always possess a wild streak unless a new cellar is built and a new-wave consultant is brought on board, both unlikely scenarios.