Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes Tardieu-Laurent 2013

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Tardieu-Laurent is essentially a super-selective négociant-éleveur, family owned and run. Michel Tardieu is at the helm working alongside with his oenologist son Bastien with his wife Michelle and daughter Camille on administration. The concept of the company centres around Michel’s and increasingly Bastien’s Tardieu's abilities in sourcing small parcels of designated wines from quality fruit, then taking care of their élevage in the Tardieu’s cellar in Lourmarin. Michel has worked tirelessly to build relationships with small growers, over many years, encouraging best practice and sourcing, in the main, low production, old vine fruit. It is Michel’s and Bastien’s meticulous attention to detail, which makes these wines so special. This Vieilles Vignes is deeply coloured, so that the nose, which is both cool and fragranced, is something of a surprise. Sprightly, bright and perfumed, red fruit, fondant icing and berry coulis come to the fore on attack. There are darker nuances too, liquorice, black pepper, cedar and spice, but red fruit and berried notes dominate in a rather elegant translation of the vintage – though there is muscle there t00 – all given definition via a defined ferrous mineral seam and beautifully poised acidity.