2019 Tardieu-Laurent Saint-Joseph Les Roches Vieilles Vignes

Tardieu-Laurent is one of the most respected micro-négociants in the Rhône Valley, founded by Michel Tardieu and originally in partnership with Dominique Laurent. Unlike traditional négociants, they work exclusively with old-vine fruit from some of the finest growers, ensuring the highest quality. The wines are known for their purity, balance, and ability to age gracefully, thanks to careful barrel selection and long aging.

For Saint-Joseph Les Roches Vieilles Vignes, the fruit is sourced from exceptional granite-laden vineyards, with vines over 50 years old. The result? A powerful yet elegant expression of Syrah, brimming with dark fruit, spice, and minerality—hallmarks of Saint-Joseph’s finest wines.

The 2019 vintage showcases resilient old-vine Syrah, shaped by a warm, dry growing season that produced wines of depth, structure, and freshness. Made from 50% whole-cluster fermentation, it is aged 12 months in new and one-year-old French oak barrels, followed by 8 months in large foudres, enhancing both complexity and refinement. Notes of cassis, crushed stone, and spice give way to a full-bodied palate with layers of red and blue fruit, bacon fat, and floral accents. Awarded 93-95 points by Jeb Dunnuck, this wine is a benchmark for Saint-Joseph’s terroir-driven power and finesse.

2019 was an oustanding vintage for Northern Rhone. Wine Spectator blessed this vintage with a 96pt review and said: "Reds are very concentrated and defined, with copious fruit; whites are more inconsistent."

Aging: 12 months in new and one-year-old French oak barrels, followed by 8 months in large Tronçais and Allier foudres.