Tardieu Laurent : Saint Joseph "Vieilles Vignes" 2017

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for the Saint Joseph "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 from Tardieu Laurent

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a vibrant crimson-purple hue.

Nose

The nose is powerful and complex, expressing intense aromas of dark fruit such as blueberry and blackberry. Floral notes of violet and candied blossoms gradually unfold, joined by peppery, mineral and smoky herbal touches that add depth to the bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine charms with its expressive, mineral and silky character. The texture is smooth and supple, with a medium-to-full body that offers a fine balance between concentration and finesse. The well-integrated, refined tannins provide a velvety feel. The finish lingers with remarkable length, allowing mineral and floral notes to shine, while echoes of violet and dark fruit continue to evolve.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Saint Joseph "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 pairs beautifully with a grilled pepper-crusted rib steak, a herb-roasted leg of lamb with Herbes de Provence, or pigeon with black olives. It also matches well with an eggplant gratin, a mushroom risotto, or aged pressed cheeses such as Comté, Tomme or Cantal.

Serving and Cellaring

The Saint Joseph "Vieilles Vignes" 2017 can be enjoyed now and will continue to develop beautifully throughout the 2020s, with cellaring potential extending for roughly two additional decades.

A Mineral and Elegant Saint-Joseph from the Northern Rhône Valley

The Estate

Founded in 1994 by Michel Tardieu, Tardieu Laurent has established itself as one of the most respected micro-négociant houses in the Rhône Valley. Michel Tardieu, a former civil servant with a passion for wine, developed a unique approach based on the rigorous selection of old-vine parcels and the building of long-lasting relationships with winegrowers who practice organic or biodynamic farming. Today, the house is run by Michel Tardieu alongside his wife Michèle and their children, Bastien and Camille, who carry forward this philosophy of excellence and respect for terroir throughout the Rhône Valley.

The Vineyard

The grapes for this Saint-Joseph come from historic parcels located mainly in Chavanay, a prestigious site renowned for its granite soils, complemented by vines in Saint-Épine and Les Oliviers. These exceptional terroirs are home to vines ranging from 50 to over 100 years old, planted on the steep hillsides characteristic of the appellation. The granite soils give the wine its distinctive mineral signature and structural precision, while the venerable age of the vines ensures remarkable concentration despite naturally low yields.

The Vintage

The 2017 vintage proved particularly challenging across the Vallée du Rhône, with the lowest yields recorded in France since the post-war period. A harsh spring brought frost and coulure, followed by an exceptionally dry summer. These demanding conditions nonetheless allowed the lightly cropped old vines to reach optimal ripeness. Favorable Mistral winds and an extended autumn period encouraged excellent phenolic maturity, producing beautifully balanced wines for patient, experienced winegrowers.

Vinification and Aging

Around 50% of the grapes are fermented as whole clusters, with the remainder destemmed, preserving aromatic delicacy while adding an elegant tannic structure. Aging takes place for 12 months in new and one-year-old French oak barrels from the Tronçais and Allier forests, followed by 6 months in wooden foudres. Bottling is carried out without fining or filtration in order to preserve the full complexity and texture of the wine.

Grape Variety

Syrah.