Tardieu Laurent : Rasteau "Vieilles Vignes" 2020

The elegance and richness of a Rhône Valley red wine

The estate

Passionate for wine and terroir, Michel Tardieu and his wife founded Domaine Tardieu Laurent in 1996, and over the years it has become a benchmark among the finest wine labels in the Rhône Valley. For two generations, this family-run estate has been magnifying the terroirs of emblematic appellations (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Hermitage, Vacqueyras, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, etc.) through aromatic, delicate wines produced using meticulous winemaking techniques.

The vineyard

This Rasteau wine comes from a vineyard planted on a soil composed of clay-limestone slopes and blue and yellow clays. The vines are on average 80 years old for the Grenache and 40 years old for the Syrah and Mourvèdre.

The vintage

Spring was marked by contrasting climatic conditions, including a lot of restorative rain. This was followed by an extremely dry summer. Water stress was avoided, however, thanks to cool nights and a few spells of rain. Despite low yields, the grapes, particularly from old vines, are of excellent quality.

Winemaking and ageing

A third of the harvest was not destemmed. The initial 10-month ageing period in one-wine and two-wine barrels wa followed by a further 10 months in tuns.

Blend

Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%) and Mourvèdre (10%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Rasteau "vieilles vignes" 2020 from Tardieu Laurent

Tasting

This Rhône Valley wine harmoniously combines elegance and finesse.

To serve

For the best tasting, decant the wine one hour before serving at a temperature of 14.5°C.