Tardieu Laurent : Gigondas "Vieilles Vignes" 2025

A "Vieilles Vignes" Gigondas rooted in the terroirs of the Dentelles de Montmirail

The estate

Founded in 1996 in Lourmarin, in the Luberon, Tardieu-Laurent has established itself as a leading négociant-éleveur in the Rhône Valley. With no vineyards of its own, it relies on a network of carefully selected partner growers to craft its cuvées. Now run by Michel Tardieu, joined by his son Bastien, the house upholds a philosophy of élevage inspired by Burgundian methods, favouring long maturation in barrels and large oak foudres to reveal the full richness of the Rhône terroirs.

The vineyard

This Gigondas "Vieilles Vignes" cuvée draws its grapes from several renowned terroirs of the appellation, including La Bouïssière, Les Dentelles, Le Cayron and Beauregard, all located on the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Old-vine Grenache and Mourvèdre, aged between 60 and over 100 years, are complemented here by Syrah parcels more than 40 years old, providing fruit from deeply rooted vines growing in the typical soils of the southern Rhône.

The vintage

The 2025 vintage is described by Tardieu-Laurent as a paradoxical year, marked by pronounced variation between the northern and southern Rhône Valley. A mild, wet winter allowed the soils to replenish their water reserves, ahead of a growing cycle punctuated by alternating spells of heat and rainfall, demanding vigilance and adaptability in both vineyard management and winemaking.

Vinification and maturation

For the Gigondas "Vieilles Vignes" 2025, three-quarters of the harvest is vinified with the stems, adding structure and complexity to the wine. Maturation takes place in two stages: ten months in barrels of one and two wines, followed by twelve months in Stockinger foudres, for a slow and gradual ageing process. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration, in order to best preserve the integrity of the fruit.

Grape varieties

This Gigondas "Vieilles Vignes" 2025 from Tardieu Laurent is made mainly from Grenache.