Maison Tardieu-Laurent Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes

Presentation

The vintage
Strange and paradoxical… This vintage has reserved us quite a few surprises, and
still raises questions. Although described as « Great » by some Vignerons, its strong
heterogeneity, depending on the sectors, imposes us to be attentive, measured, though hopeful.
2018 : the vegetative cycle is early. Spring sees generous rains and heat strokes
alternate. According to “Elders”, from memory one has to get back to the 60’ to observe such pressure of diseases in the vineyard. And, unfortunately for some Domaines, the processing windows would, in the main, only open at the week-ends… The vintage therefore promises to be technically complicated, demanding meticulous, tedious, even relentless work, in the vineyards. Damage and losses vary… but yields on Grenache are historically low… Providentially, once again, we could count on Mother Nature’s final “nudge” ! Without hesitation we can assert that the quality of the remaining grapes, the quality of their juice, is mainly due to a brilliant month of September.
Indeed, the weather conditions during the harvest were almost perfect. Cool but sunny weather, with well-marked, valued, thermal amplitudes… The Vigneron was able to choose in all serenity the ideal moment to harvest, plot of land by plot of land, without having to operate any constrained arbitration…
Terroir
La Crau, Palestor, Les Gardioles
Ageing
Ageing 8 months in new and one year old barrels. Allier, Tronçais and Jupille.
Varietals
Grenache blanc : 40%
Roussanne : 30%
Clairette : 20%
Bourboulenc : 10%
Specifications
Alcohol content : 13,5% % vol.
Bottling : Without fining and light filtration.
Age of vines : Grenache : 60 years, Roussanne 40 years Clairette/Bourboulenc : 50 years years old

Advice

Serving
12°C
Decant just before service.

Reviews

93/100
"Bright and well-defined right from the get go, with both rich and racy green melon, green plum, white peach and star fruit flavors, laced with a lemon shortbread hint. The long finish lets the fruit play out, while a honeysuckle note adds range."
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96/100
"This estate makes incredible whites, and the 2019 Chateauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes Blanc is well worth seeking out. Revealing a medium gold hue as well as great aromatics of white peach, pineapple, white flowers, and spice, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded, elegant texture, bright acidity, and a great, great finish. It's stunning today and I suspect it will keep for upwards of a decade."
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93/100
"An up-front, pretty version of this cuvée that leads with its fruit, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes Blanc offers lots of honeyed pineapple, white flowers, quince, and subtle toasty notes to go with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. It shows some classic bitter almond and minerality with time in the glass and has a great texture, good overall freshness, and a great finish."
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