Maison Tardieu Laurent - Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes

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The success of this year!
The vintage

In 2007, the challenging, pretty wet, conditions leading up to the end of Spring,
resulted in disease pressure in the vineyards. Combined with the potentially higher yields of the year, this reminded the observant Vignerons of testing vintages of the past.
Providentially, Summer was remarkably dry. A formidable sunshine and a sustained wind - although less fierce than in the preceding years - thus cleansed the Vineyards of any disease.
Even better : in these ideal conditions, the harvest began 120 days after flowering. It is exceptional that there is so long a period of time between flowering and harvesting - normally 100 days.
The harvest was drawn out. The conscientious Vignerons harvested “à la carte”, parcel by parcel, taking into account a complex heterogeneity, linked to the various maturing pace of each cépage, and to the greater or lesser precocity of each Terroir.
An impeccable sanitary state, and fresh nights, allowed the collection of perfect grapes, ideally healthy. And, cool temperatures made it possible to start slow vinifications under optimal conditions.
A subtle balance between fruit, crispness, and finesse of the tannins. The extraction of colour in the cuves never was this easy. The aromatic profiles are complex, powerful, without a hint of over ripeness. The tannins appear to be fine, round, and mellow.
Less imposing than in 2005, but amply sufficient, these tannins let anticipate a keeping Vintage. Yet, the most striking feature of 2007 is the purity of perfect fruit - the volatile acidities are the lowest ever recorded - a promise of a radiant expression of the Vins Rouges, and even more so, of the Vins Blancs.
The involvement and the know-how of the real Vignerons. In 2007, a number of Vignerons of the Vallée du Rhône, the best ones, redoubled efforts, so that their grapes reached a Quality close to perfection. Indeed, the work of the man can be decisive... unless the Vintage is “obvious” from the start, a case which is not so frequent ! The battle of authenticity, and of excellence, is to be attained in the Vineyards. Starting with the soils.
More than ever, being a Vigneron, is being able to “listen to” Nature. This way only, the challenge of adapting the Vineyards to the climatic changes will be won...

Terroir

Les Grès, Les Pendants, Le Plateau de Sarrians.

Ageing

Tronçais and Allier new oak.

Tasting

A great, austere wine. Powerful tannins with noble and spicy aromas.

Alcohol content

14,5%

Bottling

Without filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 90 %
Syrah : 10 %

Five different growers provided the fruit for this old-vine bottling, which is blended from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was grown on vines averaging 50 years in age. Smoky and meaty aromas get it off to a terrific start, and fruit recalling black plums and cherries really follows through in convincing fashion, with deep flavors and a very persistent finish.

Michael Franz
Wine Review Online , 91/100 , 2011-05-31

Bright purple. Intense red and dark berry aromas are complemented by fresh tobacco and garrigue. Sweet and sappy on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, offering lively raspberry and blackberry flavors and a kick of tangy acidity. Silky tannins add shape to the spicy, nicely focused finish. This is suppler than it was when I tasted it from barrel last year.

Josh Raynolds
Stephen Tanzers International Wine Cellar , 88/100 , 2011-01-01

Dark and alluring, offering cocoa, black tea and truffle notes that lead the way for blackberry, currant and fig paste flavors. The lush finish has a nice mesquite twinge to keep it all honest.

James Molesworth
Wine Spectator , 91/100 , 2010-10-15

The 2008 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes reveals a good tannic backbone, but I would still opt to drink it on the earlier side given the fragility of the fruit. Medium-bodied with excellent ripeness, it possesses plenty of black fruit characteristics interwoven with notions of smoke, herbs, camphor, and spice

Robert PArker
Wine Advocate , 88-90/100 , 2009-10-01

Dark crimson purple with some good appetising acidity. Less lush than the Rasteau with more apparent influence of the scrawniness of the vintage. A more refreshing mouthful! Tarry finish. Seems more obviously marked by Syrah than Grenache. Very dry finish. Very 2008! Desperately needs food. Not a heavyweight but frank and speaks of the place rather than the cellar.

Jancis Robinson , 16,5/20