Vin Doux Naturel Vieilles Vignes
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–25 years from vintage release, with the potential to age even longer due to its fortified nature.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Blue cheese, Dark chocolate desserts, Roasted figs
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Tardieu-Laurent's Vin Doux Naturel Vieilles Vignes is a spectacular homage to the historical fortified wines of the southern Rhone, particularly from the Rasteau appellation. The heritage of Vin Doux Naturel in this region stretches back to the Middle Ages, closely linked with the Knights Templar who established vineyards in the area. Crafted from remarkably old Grenache vines, this wine utilizes the traditional process of mutage—arresting fermentation by adding neutral grape spirit to preserve the natural sweetness of the grapes. Tardieu-Laurent applies their signature micro-negoce precision, aging the wine in select oak casks to develop a remarkably complex profile rich with notes of macerated dark cherries, dried figs, cocoa, and sweet baking spices, balanced by a robust structure and refined tannins.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1994 by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent at Les Sables, Route de Cucuron, 84160 Lourmarin, France, Tardieu-Laurent is one of the Rhône Valley's premier micro-négoce houses. Now managed by Michel and his son Bastien, the estate is renowned for its meticulous sourcing of fruit exclusively from very old vines across prestigious northern and southern Rhône appellations. Their philosophy centers on minimal intervention and precise, customized barrel aging, utilizing top-tier oak casks to craft wines of exceptional depth, structure, and terroir expression, such as the elegant Les Becs Fins Rouge and the refined Nobles Origines Blanc. More information can be found on their official website at http://www.tardieu-laurent.fr.