Tardieu Laurent : Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Vieilles Vignes" 2023

A delicate and balanced red wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The estate

Passionate about wine and terroirs, Michel Tardieu created the Tardieu Laurent estate with his wife in 1996, which over the vintages has become an essential reference among the most beautiful wine labels of the Rhône Valley. For two generations, this family estate has magnified the terroirs of emblematic appellations (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Hermitage, Vacqueyras, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage ...) through aromatic and delicate wines resulting from rigorous vinification.

The wine

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Vieilles Vignes" 2023 from Tardieu Laurent is a Rhône Valley wine made from vines aged 50 to over 100 years on average, planted on different terroirs (La Crau, Cabrières, Les Bedines, Les Guardioles, Bois Dauphin, Maupertuis).

The vintage

Everything seemed to announce a "Great Vintage" in 2023. After a rigorous winter and a generously watered spring, the vine benefited from ideal conditions. The summer, marked by some welcome rains, hinted at a promising harvest in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. But in a few days, an extreme heat wave came to upset these forecasts. The young vines and early terroirs suffered, while only the old vines on late soils managed to preserve optimal maturity.

Result: a very heterogeneous quality, even among the most experienced estates. White wines stand out for their balance and brilliant freshness. On the red side, variability is more marked according to the grape varieties. The Syrah surprise with their accuracy, while the old Grenache reveal a racy and precise character.

Once again, the rigorous selection of cuvées will be essential to fully appreciate the potential of this contrasted vintage.

Vinification and aging

Following the harvest, the grapes are destemmed to the extent of 50%. An initial aging of 12 months in barrels of a previous wine is followed by an additional aging of 12 months in vats.

Blend

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Vieilles Vignes" 2023 from Tardieu Laurent is the result of a blend of grenache (80%), mourvèdre (15%) and syrah (5%).