Tardieu Laurent : Coteaux 2017

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for the Coteaux 2017 by Tardieu Laurent

Tasting

Color

The color stands out for its deep, opaque red hue, shading toward an almost black purple in its densest areas, reflecting the wine’s intensity and concentration.

Nose

The nose is explosive and complex, revealing dominant spicy notes of white and black pepper, accompanied by Morello cherry and wild red berries. A pronounced minerality emerges, reflecting the granitic terroir, while secondary aromas of licorice, incense, black olive paste, violet and a subtle smokiness further enrich the bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine expresses both power and refinement, with a texture that is at once fleshy and streamlined. The attack delivers intense flavors of black fruit including black cherry, blackcurrant and plum, supported by a significant yet polished tannic structure. The mid-palate stands out for its remarkable purity, where the fruit remains distinct and vibrant, while the granitic minerality brings a captivating salinity and freshness. The finish, long and mineral, lingers with notes of white pepper, licorice and stone, extending for more than thirty seconds.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, especially lamb. It also shines alongside braised beef preparations, game with mushroom sauces, as well as aged cheeses such as Parmesan, aged Asiago or Gorgonzola. Umami-rich dishes, such as truffle dishes, mushroom-based recipes or olive tapenade, also make excellent matches. In summer, it pairs harmoniously with charcuterie, bacon and smoked preparations.

Serving and Cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Coteaux 2017 at a temperature of around 16°C. Decanting for two hours before serving allows the wine to aerate, slightly soften the tannins and fully reveal its aromatic complexity. Ideally

A Rhône Valley wine combining power and mineral freshness

The estate

Founded in 1994 by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent, the Tardieu Laurent house has established itself as one of the Rhône Valley’s most respected micro-négociants. Based in Lourmarin in the south of the region, the house stands out for its unique approach: selecting fruit from old vines grown on outstanding parcels and overseeing their aging with exemplary rigor. Since 2004, Michel Tardieu has run the estate on his own, supported by his son Bastien, a qualified oenologist who joined the company the same year. Together, they have steered the house’s style toward greater elegance and freshness, while maintaining their commitment to the authentic expression of terroirs. The house works with more than 70 winegrowers throughout the valley, favoring organic and biodynamic practices, and nurtures relationships built on trust and mutual respect.

The vineyard

This Coteaux 2017 comes from vines aged sixty to one hundred years, planted on the Savaux, Chaillots and Patou parcels on the lower slopes of Cornas. These sites are characterized by soils of decomposed granite, giving the wine its distinctive minerality and hallmark power. Thanks to their deep root systems that can reach ten meters, the old vines fully express the complexity of the terroir while demonstrating remarkable resilience to climatic variations.

The vintage

The growing season was marked by long, warm and dry conditions, punctuated by cool nights that created the ideal balance to produce ripe wines while preserving remarkable freshness. The year proved particularly favorable in Cornas, allowing the old vines to fully express their potential without the compromises linked to water or heat stress.

Winemaking and aging

The Coteaux 2017 was made from Syrah and the old Serine clone, with partial destemming at 50% during fermentation, bringing structural elements and subtle herbaceous notes. The wine was then aged for eighteen months in new and one-year-old barrels from the Tronçais and Allier cooperages, followed by an additional six months in foudre. Bottling was carried out without fining or filtration, thereby preserving the wine’s integrity and complexity.

Grape variety

100% Syrah and Serine clone.