Very far from the archetype of Tavel, this Cuvée significantly goes off the beaten track...
The vintage

2015 - Vintages in « 5 », vintages which bring good luck. Often…

Spell of the years in « 5 » ? The fact is that, in recent decades, Vintages ending in « 5 » - 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015 - , carry success stories, in Vallée du Rhône, but also, more generally, in the whole of the Vineyards of France. It must be said that 2015 put the odds on its side, with almost optimal climatic conditions for each and every season of the year! Thus, winter is rainy, allowing vines to benefit from good water reserves. Spring awakening is somewhat late - 3 weeks delay, compared to 2014, yet, the weather gradually settles, and flowering takes place in excellent conditions: the output of grapes is quite simply outstanding. The summer period arrives then quickly, with extremely hot months of June, July and August. Nevertheless, one cannot speak of heat wave, as the nights remain cool. Consequently, thermal amplitudes are absolutely phenomenal. No pressure from pests and diseases, the vineyard and the winemaker breathe freely. Everything is looking fine before the start of the harvest…
Ripe, but not too much. Summer and the month of September are punctuated by rains, avoiding the suffering of the vines, a key element during the summer period. The grapes mature slowly. Unfortunately, the rain that falls around September 20th is the "too much” rain... Pity, we were right next to a huge Vintage… But, well, no worry, the Style of the Vintage remains more than charming, with full, juicy, and silkiest Wines !


Terroir

Vallorgues.

Type of soil

Round pebbles and sand.

Ageing

6 months in concret tanks.

Vinification

Organic Farming.

Serving

10°C

Tasting

With its white flowers, vine peach, aromas, this Wine is addressed to lovers of true Rosé !

Alcohol content

14%

Bottling

Without fining and light filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 60 %
Cinsault : 35 %
Syrah : 5 %

Michel Tardieu's 2015 Tavel Vieilles Vignes is a winner. Medium-bodied, rich, nicely textured and yet always fresh and balanced, it gives up full-flavored notes of framboise, ripe cherries, spice and licorice. It shows the warmer, more textured style of the vintage, yet it has good acidity as well. Drink this beauty, with food, over the coming year.

Jeb Dunnuck
Wine Advocate , 90/100 , 2016-05-01

Very pale tomato red but not the strong orange you can find in many a Tavel. Clean, even a tad neutral on the nose. But certainly not hot or heavy. Reasonably energetic but I’m struggling to find any superiority over many other rosés. It’s technically fine but just very slightly sticky and not quite at its peak.

Jancis Robinson , 15,5/20 , 2016-10-14

Un fruité puissant est entouré d'une acidité bien calée pour rendre ce rosé charnu et harmonieux.

La Revue des Vins de France , 15/20 , 2017-05-01