Tardieu Laurent : Saint-Péray "Vieilles Vignes" 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Saint-Péray "Vieilles Vignes" 2024 Tardieu Laurent

Tasting

Colour
With a lovely pale yellow hue with green highlights, this wine recalls the colour of straw.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet expresses notes of white fruits such as pear, peach and apricot. It is enriched with floral nuances of hawthorn and honeysuckle, complemented by subtle mineral touches, iris and green coffee.

Palate
The palate offers a lovely balance between the textural richness brought by the Marsanne and the aromatic vivacity of the Roussanne. The palate proves structured and delicate, faithfully reflecting the identity of its terroir.

Service and storage
Endowed with fine aging potential, this Saint-Péray "Vieilles Vignes" 2024 can evolve favourably in the bottle for approximately 10 to 15 years.

Other characteristics
This still white wine is made from grapes grown according to the principles of organic farming. Its alcohol content generally ranges between 12.5 and 14.5%.

The authentic expression of a white wine from the Rhône Valley

The estate
Founded in 1996 by Michel Tardieu, the house of Tardieu Laurent is based in Lourmarin. Although located in Provence, it has a strong presence throughout the Rhône Valley. Originally the result of a partnership, the company is now run by the Tardieu family. Michel, his wife Michèle, and their children Camille and Bastien, work together to carry on the estate's style. Certified organic, this négociant stands out for its selection of old vines and its respectful approach to terroir.

The vineyard
This wine comes from the Saint-Péray appellation, located in Ardèche, which marks the southern limit of the northern Côtes du Rhône. The grapes come from two renowned lieux-dits, La Côte and Beylesse, characterised by complex clay-granite soils. The selected vines stand out for their advanced age and deep root systems: the Marsanne vines are between 50 and 100 years old, while the Roussanne vines are over 40 years old. The Mediterranean climate here is tempered by continental influences and cool winds from the north.

The vintage
The year 2024 began with an unpredictable and capricious spring. The summer season then proved demanding, marked by significant temperature swings and intense heat. In September, pronounced day-night temperature variations favoured aromatic development, although phenolic ripeness progressed slowly, requiring great vigilance in determining the ideal harvest date.

Winemaking and aging
For this Saint-Péray "Vieilles Vignes" 2024, alcoholic fermentation takes place entirely in small wooden vessels, alongside malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels (new and once-used) sourced from the forests of Allier, Tronçais and Jupille. Unlike other cuvées, it does not undergo extended aging in foudre, in order to preserve its freshness. Bottling is carried out with minimal intervention, without fining and with very light filtration.

Grape varieties
Marsanne (70%)
Roussanne (30%)