Tardieu Laurent : Rasteau "Vieilles Vignes" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Rasteau "Vieilles Vignes" 2023 Tardieu Laurent

Tasting

Colour
With beautiful visual intensity, the colour reveals a deep, brilliant red hue.

Nose
The nose seduces with its aromatic complexity, releasing scents of well-ripened black fruits such as blackberry and plum. Spicy notes of pepper, star anise and garrigue enrich this bouquet with Mediterranean accents.

Palate
Full and generous, the palate offers a perfectly balanced tannic structure, supported by a crisp acidity that preserves a lovely freshness. The texture proves full and fluid, with melted, silky tannins. The remarkably long finish stretches on with aromas of red and black fruits, enhanced by subtle touches of chocolate and liquorice.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs wonderfully with full-flavoured meats such as beef, lamb or game, as well as with roast duck. It also ideally accompanies rustic dishes from the south of France, sautéed mushrooms or hard, aged cheeses, particularly herbed sheep's milk tomes.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate this 2023 vintage, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 14 and 14.5°C, after decanting for about an hour to release its full complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve favourably until around 2033.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 14.5%. To preserve the authentic expression of the terroir and the integrity of its aromas, it was bottled without any fining or filtration.

The authentic expression of Rasteau's terroir by Maison Tardieu-Laurent

The estate

Founded in 1996 in Lourmarin in Provence, Maison Tardieu Laurent has established itself as a key reference in the Rhône Valley. Initiated by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent, the company is now run by the Tardieu family, with Michel still at its helm, supported by his wife Michèle and their children Bastien and Camille. This estate stands out for its unique négociant-éleveur model, meticulously selecting the finest grapes from ancient terroirs to produce wines of great finesse, in strict accordance with the principles of biodynamics.

The vineyard

The terroir of the Rasteau appellation, situated at two hundred metres above sea level, is characterised by a mosaic of clay-limestone soils, marl and sandstone, often covered with alpine rolled pebbles. The grapes come from very old vines, averaging 80 years for the Grenache and 40 years for the Syrah and Mourvèdre, carefully cultivated to express the full quintessence of this southern cru.

The vintage

The year 2023 began with a mild winter, followed by a dry spring and a particularly hot summer, marked by an extreme heatwave in August and September. Despite a slight water deficit, these stable climatic conditions allowed the very old vines, located in sheltered, late-ripening terroirs, to reach optimal ripeness thanks to their natural resilience.

Winemaking and aging

For this wine, a third of the grapes is vinified without crushing, while the rest ferments as whole bunches. Aging, lasting a total of twenty months, takes place in two stages: ten months in one- and two-wine barrels, followed by an additional ten months in wooden vats. No new barrels are used, thus favouring a pure and measured expression of the fruit.

Grape varieties

Grenache (70%), Mourvèdre (15%), Syrah (15%).