2021 Tardieu Laurent Hermitage
Grape
Syrah
Its Origins
Domaine Tardieu-Laurent was established in the Rhone Valley in 1994. It was originally a partnership between the dynamic young winemaker Michel Tardieu and one of the hottest names in Burgundy, Dominique Laurent. Today it is owned and run solely by Michel and his oenologist son Bastien Tardieu. Tardieu-Laurent is an extremely unusual operation in that they are a négociant only, buying wines in their raw state from growers all over the Rhône, which they mature and blend before bottling. They own no vineyards and don't buy grapes, only wine. But they are still very much an artisan or 'micro' negociant, making between just two and 20 barrels of each wine. The quality is unmatched due to the incredible fruit sources, critical to which are long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with a network of producers owning specific, top quality parcels. The Tardieus know the vineyards and parcels by heart, and most are extremely low-yielding old vines grown with biodynamic farming. Intervention is minimal with a focus on accurate translation of terroir and vintage. None of the wines are fined and only a few have a very light filtration. For years now Michel and Bastien have favoured large oak foudres, preferring slow, measured exposure to oxygen. The naturally-restricted volumes result in increased complexity and intensity. These are world-class wines which thoroughly deserve their international acclaim.
What The Critics Say
95/100 James Suckling
"Expressive nose of dark berries, roasted meat, smoke, and dried leaves with baking spices and cold fire-pit undertones. It’s full-bodied with finely grained tannins. Textured with a suave character. Elegant Hermitage here with controlled power at all stages. Focused and concentrated yet it has this brightness of fruit at the center with succulent cherries and wild currants providing freshness and verve. Superb. Drinkable now, but best from 2026."
16.5++ Jancis Robinson
"60-year-old vines in Début du Méal, Les Pierrelles, Les Diognières, La Croix. 100% destemmed. Aged for 12 months in new and one-year-old barrels then a further 12 months in foudre. Cask sample. Powerful liquorice nose – much heavier and meatier than the Côte Rôtie Vieilles Vignes. Then sweet with just a hint of oak evident. Needs a bit of time to lose that. Big and bold but as yet just ingredients rather than the finished wine. Drink 2027-2045"
96/100 Decanter, Matt Walls (2020 Vintage)
"Good sense of weight, volume and depth here. The acidity is marked and nicely integrated, as is the alcohol and the oak for that matter - a harmonious, though certainly a sizeable and mighty wine. Concentrated, intense and long, with a good sense of firmness and intensity, the tannins are plentiful but all saturated in fruit. This will be good in time, but wait. Drinking Window: 2030 - 2042"
| Variety | Shiraz / Syrah |
|---|---|
| Region | Rhone Valley |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Alcohol | 13.00% |
| Maturity | 2024 - 2040 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.
