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Michel Tardieu, Rhône, etc…
Michel Tardieu joined forces with Dominique Laurent to produce a range of outstanding wines, initially from appellations within the Rhône, and then expanding to purchase wines from other top producers in Provence and the Languedoc. The wines are initially chosen at vintage time, with Michel and Dominique advising on the
vinification.
The young wines are then transferred to Michel’s cellars in the Luberon for élevage after the fermentation, in the spring following the vintage. The wines are aged for up to two years in Dominique’s famous “magic casks”, with a judicious choice of new or two and three year old oak. As with Dominique’s Burgundies, many of the wines chosen are from very old vines, which naturally produce a limited yield of grapes, with very concentrated
flavours.
The Guy Louis cuvée is always Michel’s best cuvée of Côtes du Rhône. The white, from Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Bourboulenc, is floral and ripe, with supple grapey flavour. The red, a blend of 60% Grenache from the Rasteau area, Syrah and a little Mourvèdre, is rich and ripe, with powerful juicy fruit, tannin backbone, and good structure. It will improve with 3 – 4 years ageing. A very serious wine.
The 2000 Crozes Hermitage is classic northern Rhône syrah, with a smoky toasty syrah nose, smoky bacon fruit, mineral and elegant, with good length. The 2000
St Joseph Vieilles Vignes has a ripe elegant nose, with more weight, mineral, more complex flavours, ripe fat fruit, elegant, and good typicity. The
Châteauneuf is broad, earthy and ripe, with classic big firm fruit, and a pleasing touch of oak.
The Costières de Nîmes is from 90% syrah and 10% Grenache. Ripe fruit nose, with peppery spicy syrah fruit and the fatness of Grenache. Good length and structure, already delicious. The
Minervois les Causses Vieilles Vignes is the classic Cote Rôtie blend of Syrah with 12% viognier. Firm peppery spicy rustic fruit, with broad gamey flavours, peppery, will age well. The two
Corbières are produced under Michel and Dominique’s guidance and aged in the Corbières region in Dominique’s casks.
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