Maison Tardieu Laurent - Gigondas - Vieilles Vignes

Téléchargements

Surely the great success of the vintage! In whole from non destemmed grapes, and from almost century-old Grenache.
The vintage

Indeed, all along the year, 2012 did not spare the Vignerons : even the savviest got confused, almost losing their points of references, while dealing with its tricks ! Heterogeneity in the vineyard would bear, right from the start, the mark
of damage caused by winter frost. Sadly enough, very old Grenache and Syrah vines did not survive this frost. Loss of a precious heritage, impact on the
yields of the upcoming harvest, Vignerons were already under pressure…
Conversely, the months of July and August were extremely hot, speeding up the maturing process, as a first step, but worsening water stress, in a second. Rarest reaction, the Vignerons came to bless the rains that fell beginning of September, as they profitably revived the phenolic ripening of the grapes. In the end, deciding the right moment to pick up grapes caused the
serious Vignerons a real headache ! To the extent that the harvesting of the different cépages, in the different parcelles, followed a more than widely unusual order…
And now, for one more uncommon observation : opting for a later harvest was not necessarily the winning choice, in 2012 : the exception that
proves the rule !
Now, at this stage, as the Wines are nearing the end of the fermenting process,
they already impose their real potential : they are very, very, good… Thus, they lead us to admit that, from contrasts, Harmony can arise...

Terroir

Les Garrigues, les Dentelles, Cayron.

Ageing

20 months in one vintage old barrels. Allier and Tronçais.

Serving

14°C
Decant an hour before tasting.

Tasting

In the style of "yesteryear" Gigondas, with hints of marinade and garrigue. The tannins are silky, the wine is noble. It is highly recommended to cellar such a wine!

Alcohol content

14,5%

Bottling

Without fining and filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 95 %
Mourvèdre : 5 %

This has a perfumy edge, with a black tea note weaving around the coare of lightly mulled plum and blackberry fruit. Dried star anise and a twinge of bittersweet cocoa chime in on the finish, which has fine-grained grip.

James Molesworth
Wine Spectator , 93/100 , 2015-04-30

Deep ruby with a bright rim. Assertive red and dark berry aromas are lifted by notes of white pepper and fresh flowers. Juicy and sharply focused on entry, then deeper and broader in the mid-palate, offering zesty black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of candied lavender. Supple, harmonious tannins lend gentle grip to this suave wine's long, penetrating finish.

Josh Raynolds
Vinous , 92/100 , 2015-04-01

Minerally and spicy with blackberry, black raspberry; smooth, rich and balanced with depth and style.

Anthony Dias Blue
The Tasting Panel , 92/100 , 2015-03-01

Opaque ruby. Smoky, deeply perfumed aromas of dark fruit preserves, pipe tobacco and woodsmoke, with a peppery overtone. Lush and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering distinctly ripe cassis and blueberry flavors and a hint of mocha. Closes smoky and warm, with resonating spiciness and sweet, slow-building tannins.

Josh Raynolds
Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar , 89-90/100 , 2014-02-01

Also seeing a big portion of stems, the 2012 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is 95% Grenache (the balance is Syrah and Mourvedre) that comes from 100-year-old vines and higher elevation vineyards. Ground pepper, leather, mineral, charcoal and smoky dark fruit all flow from this medium to full-bodied, supple and nicely textured effort. Surprisingly polished and elegant, with beautiful purity of fruit and great acidity, it’s a knockout.

Jeb Dunnuck
Wine Advocate , 90-92/100 , 2013-12-01

Dark purple. Gloriously rich and spicy. Polished and racy. Real energy and sophistication here. But terroir too. Tannins are almost smothered by the complex fruit. A hint of liquorice on the (very refreshing) end.

Jancis Robinson , 17,5/20 , 2013-11-04

Remarquable écrin d'un rouge soutenu à reflets mauves. A l'aération son bouquet montre une belle concentration sur des parfums de fruits cuits, de pierre à fusil, de terre fraîchement remuée, de feuille et de bois chauffé. Volumineuse et puissante l'attaque précède un milieu de bouche exemplaire où de beaux tanins fondus étayent des arômes de Brandy, de réglisse épicée, de sauge et de doux boisé. La finale, d'une longueur appréciable lui offre un beau potentiel de garde plein de promesses.

Vins & Santé , 2016-06-20