Tardieu Laurent : Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023

A full-bodied and expressive red wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The estate

Passionate about wine and terroirs, Michel Tardieu created the Tardieu Laurent estate with his wife in 1996, which over the vintages has become an essential reference among the most beautiful wine labels of the Rhône Valley.

For two generations, this family estate has magnified the terroirs of emblematic appellations (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu, Hermitage, Vacqueyras, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage ...) through aromatic and delicate wines resulting from rigorous vinification.

The vineyard

Planted on a mosaic of terroirs (Plateau de Mont Redon, les Bédines, la Crau, Cabrières, Pignan), the vines aged 40 to 80 years old (grenache and mourvèdre: 60 to 80 years, syrah: 40 years) give birth to great Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines.

The vintage

Only a few days were enough to shift 2023 from a "Great Vintage" to a more complex vintage. After a harsh winter and a well-watered spring, the vine seemed in excellent health, offering beautiful prospects. However, an extreme heat wave at the end of summer upset these hopes, weakening the young vines and early terroirs. Only the old vines with low yields and located on late terroirs were able to resist, ensuring optimal maturity. The result? A vintage marked by strong heterogeneity, even among the most seasoned estates. White wines stand out for their balance and freshness, while red wines reveal a great disparity depending on the grape varieties.

Vinification and aging

The harvest is destemmed by 50% before vinification. The aging lasts 10 months in barrels of one and two wines then 10 months in foudress.

Blend

Grenache (70%), syrah (15%), mourvèdre (10%) and cinsault (5%).

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2023 from Tardieu Laurent

Tasting

The syrah, against all odds, display a beautiful aromatic purity, while the old grenache show themselves to be refined and precise.

Service

For optimal tasting, it is recommended to decant this wine 2 hours before serving it at 14°C.