2007 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes

Vivid ruby. Pungent aromas of raspberry, kirsch and smoky minerals. Lively red fruit flavors are deepened by a note of cola and perked up by white pepper and lavender. Finishes long and lucid, with resonating notes of floral pastilles and pepper.

Inky ruby. Exotically perfumed scents of red berries and cherry lifted by fresh rose, lavender and minerals. Graceful, well-delineated red fruit flavors are shockingly delicate for a 2007. A note of blood orange comes up on the finish, adding even more vivacity. Offers compelling finesse.

Michel Tardieu uses about 80% stems in the vinification of the 2007 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes. This dark ruby/purple-hued effort reminds me of the Gigondas cuvees made by the brilliant Yves Gras. Its deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by notes of raspberries, blueberries, crushed rocks, and flowers. The complex aromatics are followed by a dense, full-bodied wine displaying both power and richness. It should drink well for 8-10 years. ||This partial look at the Tardieu-Laurent portfolio concentrates on the value-priced offerings from the southern Rhone. Michel Tardieu’s Chateauneuf du Papes were reviewed in issue #179. Wine Advocate.February, 2009