Maison Tardieu Laurent - Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes

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Captivating, perfumed, nose, on notes of dried flowers and oriental spices. A Wine you will appreciate as of its early years.
The vintage

Strange and paradoxical… This vintage has reserved us quite a few surprises, and
still raises questions. Although described as « Great » by some Vignerons, its strong
heterogeneity, depending on the sectors, imposes us to be attentive, measured, though hopeful.
2018 : the vegetative cycle is early. Spring sees generous rains and heat strokes
alternate. According to “Elders”, from memory one has to get back to the 60’ to observe such pressure of diseases in the vineyard. And, unfortunately for some Domaines, the processing windows would, in the main, only open at the week-ends… The vintage therefore promises to be technically complicated, demanding meticulous, tedious, even relentless work, in the vineyards. Damage and losses vary… but yields on Grenache are historically low… Providentially, once again, we could count on Mother Nature’s final “nudge” ! Without hesitation we can assert that the quality of the remaining grapes, the quality of their juice, is mainly due to a brilliant month of September.
Indeed, the weather conditions during the harvest were almost perfect. Cool but sunny weather, with well-marked, valued, thermal amplitudes… The Vigneron was able to choose in all serenity the ideal moment to harvest, plot of land by plot of land, without having to operate any constrained arbitration…

Terroir

Plateau de Sarrians, la Ponche, les Grès, les Pendants

Ageing

10 months in one and two vintages barrels. Allier et Tronçais. Then 12 months in foudre.

Winemaking

1/2 non destemmed.

Serving

14°C
Decant 2 hours before service.

Tasting

Captivating, perfumed, nose, on notes of dried flowers and oriental spices. A Wine you will appreciate as of its early years.

Alcohol content

14,5%

Bottling

Without fining and filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 70 %
Mourvèdre : 20 %
Syrah : 10 %

Leafy herbs, black cherries, melted licorice, and garrigue notes all emerge from the 2018 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes. It's a ripe, sexy wine with medium to full body, ripe tannins, terrific sweetness of fruit, and a great finish. Based on 80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre brought up in once- and twice-used barrels as well as foudre, it’s a smoking good Vacqueyras to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.

Jeb Dunnuck , 91-93/100 , 2019-08-16

Blueish crimson. Very lively, fresh nose — almost as though it came from somewhere higher! Really vigorous with a structure that overrides the ripeness of the vintage. Appetising and beautifully balanced with no obvious suggestion of oak. Though there is certainly quite a bit of fine tannin on the end. Some lovely lift. I may be underscoring this. It's not as dense as the Chiteauneufs but is hugely enjoyable.

Jancis Robinson , 16,5+/20 , 2019-11-11

Wine Enthusiast , 94/100 , 2021-01-11