Tardieu Laurent

The History of Maison Tardieu-Laurent

Nothing destined Michel Tardieu to become one of the Rhône Valley’s leading wine figures, apart from his passion for wine, terroirs and the people behind them. A civil servant by profession, he traveled through the Rhône vineyards and beyond whenever he could, developing his palate through countless tastings with the finest winemakers in every region. Driven by this passion, he decided in the mid-1990s to establish Maison Tardieu-Laurent in Lourmarin, in the heart of his native Provence.

The venture began when two distinctive personalities met: Michel Tardieu, a self-taught Rhône wine enthusiast, and Dominique Laurent, a former pastry chef turned Burgundy wine merchant and aging specialist, renowned for his meticulous work with barrels. Their partnership gave rise to an approach new to the Rhône, applying Burgundy’s aging techniques to Syrah and Grenache. Success came quickly, and the house established itself as a leading name in high-end wine merchanting. The family later bought all the shares and the Tardieu-Laurent name, leaving Michel solely responsible for selection. Today, it is truly a family venture: Bastien and Camille Tardieu have joined their parents, Michel and Michèle. The men work in the cellar, the women manage the business, and all share the same philosophy of wine. Michel was already pouring a few drops of fine wine into his children’s glasses at Sunday lunch; twenty years later, he once again finds joy in selecting, blending and aging these fine wines with them. 

Terroirs and Vines of Maison Tardieu-Laurent

The house owns no vineyards of its own: its strength lies in its network of contacts and the discernment of its selection. Michel and Bastien Tardieu travel tirelessly across the Rhône region in search of the finest plots, from north to south. The northern terroirs bring the granite, gneiss and schist of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray. The southern terroirs offer the rounded pebbles, red clays, sandy soils and limestone of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau and the Côtes du Rhône.

The decisive criterion remains the age of the vines. To gain access to the finest lots, generally from the oldest vines, intimate knowledge of the terroirs is not enough: it also takes the trust of winegrowers, patiently built over decades. Syrah dominates the northern reds and Grenache Noir the southern reds, alongside Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault. Marsanne and Roussanne make up the northern whites, while Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne go into the southern whites. An increasing number of partner estates, particularly in the southern Côtes du Rhône, are converting to organic farming, a development the house follows closely and now notes on its technical sheets.

Winemaking at Maison Tardieu-Laurent

The house has built its identity on aging its wines. Each cuvée spends time in French oak barrels, combining new barrels and barrels used for one previous vintage, with oak sourced from the forests of Allier, Tronçais and Jupille. Aging lasts ten to twelve months for the whites and twelve to twenty-four months for the reds, depending on the appellation and vintage. This work brings finesse and structure without ever overshadowing the character of the grape variety or terroir.

The style has evolved considerably over the years. Where the early vintages embraced generous oak, the house has gradually reduced the proportion of new oak and adopted larger vessels—demi-muids and foudres—which allow greater air exchange and let the fruit shine through. Some lots are now vinified as whole clusters, bringing freshness and energy to wines from both the southern and northern Rhône. Every cuvée is bottled without fining and with only very light filtration, or none at all—a rare approach in the region and a sign of deep respect for the wine’s purity and natural character. The result is wines with both immense aging potential and a textural elegance that immediately sets them apart.

The Cuvées of Maison Tardieu-Laurent

Côte-Rôtie Old Vines: the house’s most prestigious cuvée from the northern Rhône. Made from very old Syrah vines on the schist and granite slopes of Ampuis, it offers a deep color, aromas of black fruit, violet, olive and smoked bacon, followed by a dense, refined palate with fine tannins. A wine for very long aging, regularly rated among the appellation’s best.

Hermitage Red: a selection from the finest plots on the storied hill, in a powerful, mineral style. Dense texture, firm tannins and an impressively long finish, with the granite and iron notes that mark the appellation. Give it at least ten years to age.

Hermitage White: predominantly Marsanne from the hill’s terroirs, barrel-aged to produce a full-bodied, waxy and profound white. Ripe white fruit, honey, hazelnut and dried flowers, with acidity that will carry it through many years of aging.

Cornas Old Vines: Syrah at its most sun-drenched and earthy, grown on the weathered granite of this lesser-known appellation. Dense texture, powerful yet ripe tannins, and aromas of cooked black fruit, licorice and smoke. A quintessential wine for aging.

Cornas Coteaux: the house’s second interpretation of the appellation, sourced from higher hillside plots and offering a slightly more graceful, fresher style. Black fruit, pepper and incisive minerality, with a structure that is already approachable.

Saint-Joseph Old Vines Red: Syrah from the granite slopes of the right bank, made from carefully selected old vines. Crisp black fruit, pepper and fine tannins, with the appellation’s characteristic precision and excellent aging potential.

Saint-Joseph Old Vines White: a blend of 85% Marsanne and 15% Roussanne from thirty- to forty-year-old vines, bottled without fining and with only light filtration. Impressive and precise, with citrus and quince, clearly defined minerality and the ability to develop over several years.

Crozes-Hermitage Old Vines: one of the best values in the range. An inviting, aromatic Syrah from the terroirs of the Drôme, with silky tannins and vibrant fruit, complemented by judicious oak aging.

Saint-Péray Old Vines: a Marsanne and Roussanne white from this resurgent appellation across from Valence. Both full-bodied and taut, with white fruit, almond and a saline finish that gives it plenty of energy.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Old Vines Red: the house’s great southern cuvée, made from the appellation’s oldest Grenache vines, complemented by Mourvèdre and Syrah. Concentration, depth and complexity, with notes of candied black fruit, garrigue, leather and sweet spice. A bottle built for two decades in the cellar.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red: the appellation’s classic cuvée, more approachable and ready to enjoy sooner, but made with the same rigor in its aging. Ripe fruit, supple tannins and southern generosity, in a style that always remains fresh.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Old Vines White: a rare, sought-after white made from the appellation’s old white grape varieties and aged in barrels. Rich, waxy and floral, with a mineral backbone that keeps it from becoming heavy. Drink it young or leave it in the cellar for ten years.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Special Cuvée: the house’s ultimate selection from this appellation, reserved for the most successful vintages and produced in very limited quantities. Density, depth and refined texture in a wine for collectors.

Gigondas Old Vines: Grenache and Mourvèdre from the limestone slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail, aged in barrels. A powerful, structured wine with notes of black cherry, garrigue and pepper, and an upland freshness that balances its richness.

Gigondas: the appellation’s classic cuvée, softer and fruitier, to be opened in its early years. An excellent partner for grilled meats and slow-cooked dishes.

Vacqueyras Old Vines: rounded, dense and focused, this old-vine Grenache Vacqueyras offers generous texture and a spicy finish. It perfectly embodies the value for money that has earned the house its reputation in the southern appellations.

Rasteau Old Vines: old-vine Grenache from the village’s clay-limestone terroirs, generous and warm, yet held in balance by acidity that makes it easy to drink. Black fruit, cocoa and sweet spice.

Côtes du Rhône Guy Louis: a tribute cuvée named after the founders’ two grandfathers, made from old Grenache and Syrah vines and aged in barrels. A Côtes du Rhône of rare ambition, often compared with wines from far more prestigious appellations.

Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Becs Fins Red: a blend of approximately 60% Grenache from sixty-year-old vines and 40% Syrah from twenty-year-old vines, vinified entirely in stainless steel tanks with no oak aging. A wine of pure, vibrant fruit, ready to enjoy and made for everyday meals.

Côtes du Rhône Les Becs Fins White: the white counterpart to this accessible cuvée, lively and aromatic, with citrus and white floral notes. Serve well chilled as an aperitif or with grilled fish.

Côtes du Rhône Special Cuvée: an occasional selection from the house in this regional appellation, born from an especially successful lot. A welcome surprise at a modest price, in the house’s elegant, judiciously oaked style.

Bandol: the Tardieu family’s venture into Provence, in this legendary appellation dominated by Mourvèdre. Structure, depth and aromas of black fruit, leather and garrigue, with the aging potential that has made the appellation famous.