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 is a third northern Rhône and two-thirds from the south, the vast majority of the grapes coming from cru sites. 35% Roussanne, 25% Marsanne, 20% Grenache, 10% Viognier and 10% Clairette. The declassified cru grapes include a third from Hermitage, no less. Broad and quite voluminous, this is a serious, age-worthy Côtesdu- Rhône, coming to a defined point on the finish and leaving a lingering sense of peach skin grip. 100% barrel fermented, it is then aged for eight months in new, oneand two-year old barrels.