Jean Tardy

History of Domaine Jean Tardy

Originally, the Tardy family was based in Flagey-Échezeaux, a few kilometres from Vosne-Romanée. In 1920, Victor Tardy joined the Domaine Camuzet in Vosne-Romanée as a farm worker. In 1945, Étienne Camuzet, then a member of parliament for the Côte d'Or, entrusted him with vines on a sharecropping basis, marking the beginning of the family's adventure. In 1966, Jean Tardy succeeded his father Victor. Domaine Méo-Camuzet then entrusted him with the sharecropping of prestigious plots: Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes and Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru. These vines would remain with the estate until the 2007 harvest, at which point Jean-Nicolas Méo reclaimed his plots.

From 1981 onwards, Jean Tardy made significant efforts to expand his own estate. After a few plots of Bourgogne Passetoutgrain, the estate grew to include Chambolle-Musigny (1984), Nuits-Saint-Georges (1989), Vosne-Romanée Le Vigneux (1999), Échezeaux Grand Cru (2002 thanks to a group of friends), Fixin (2006), Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Champerriers (2007), Hautes-Côtes de Nuits (2008) and finally Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Argillas (2009–2010). Guillaume Tardy, Jean's son, joined the estate in 1997, went to work in Australia, then returned permanently in 2000. He took charge of winemaking in 2001, then of sales in 2005. Since 2010, the winery has been equipped with temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, allowing for greater precision and purity.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Jean Tardy

The vineyard of Domaine Jean Tardy & Fils extends over 4.5 perfectly maintained hectares, running through the Côte de Nuits from north to south across 9 different appellations. To the north lies Fixin (lieu-dit La Place, vines of 40–45 years, near the Route des Grands Crus), followed by Gevrey-Chambertin (Aux Champerriers Vieilles Vignes, 50-year-old vines at a good altitude). In Chambolle-Musigny, the estate cultivates the lieu-dit Les Athets. Vosne-Romanée, the historic heart of the estate, is home to the plot Le Vigneux, located to the north of the village next to Bas Maizières, of which the estate is, to our knowledge, the only producer declaring it separately.

Further south, in Nuits-Saint-Georges, the estate cultivates Au Bas de Combe Vieilles Vignes (70-year-old vines on the border of Vosne, small and highly concentrated berries) and the Premier Cru Aux Argillas. To the south, Échezeaux Grand Cru Les Treux Vieilles Vignes (vines of 75–80 years) represents the pinnacle of the estate. Rounding out the range are the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Maelie cuvée (named after Guillaume's daughter, 40-year-old vines at Concœur, just above Vosne) and the Bourgogne Passetoutgrain. The soils, typical of the Côte de Nuits, are clay-limestone, with nuances specific to each climat. The vines are tended with respect for the soils, favouring ploughing and the addition of compost over chemical inputs, with short pruning in winter, very strict desbudding in spring and manual harvesting.

Winemaking at Domaine Jean Tardy

In the cellar at Vosne-Romanée, located at 46 RN 74, Guillaume Tardy applies traditional, minimally interventionist winemaking methods. Since 2010, the winery has been equipped with temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, ensuring precise control of temperatures during fermentation. The Pinot Noir grapes are fully destemmed (100%), with a cold pre-fermentation maceration since 2001. The vatting period lasts 18 to 20 days depending on the needs of the vintage, with an alternation between measured punchdowns and pump-overs, in pursuit of the finest possible extraction.

Ageing takes place in oak barrels for 16 to 20 months, with a proportion of new oak finely adjusted according to the appellation: 25 to 30% for the Villages, 50 to 60% for the Premiers Crus, and 70% for the Grands Crus. This progression in concentration and nobility of ageing allows each cuvée to gain in harmony and ageing potential, through to the unification of each cuvée and bottling at the estate. Sulphur is added in minimal quantities. Guillaume Tardy, a winemaker from Vosne par excellence, seeks above all wines of feminine expression, combining finesse, purity and delicacy, in the purest style of the great Burgundies of the Côte de Nuits.

The cuvées of Domaine Jean Tardy

The Bourgogne Passetoutgrain is the estate's historic cuvée, the first addition to the family's patrimony in 1981. An indulgent and approachable wine, crafted in the Burgundian tradition with a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, marked by vibrant fruit and a smooth palate.

The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Cuvée Maelie is a single-plot cuvée named after Guillaume Tardy's daughter. Sourced from 40-year-old vines planted at Concœur, just above Vosne-Romanée, this Pinot Noir offers a ruby colour, a cherry nose with spiced notes, almost floral aromas, a broad and mouth-watering palate with a beautiful acidity.

The Fixin La Place comes from a plot acquired in 2006 on this lieu-dit, near the Route des Grands Crus. Vines of 40–45 years that yield a Pinot Noir with a lovely nose of red cherry, stone and blonde tobacco notes, with a palate of great finesse and elegance, and a squarer finish reminiscent of the Fixin terroir. Far more elegant than most Fixins.

The Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Champerriers Vieilles Vignes comes from vines over 50 years old planted at a good altitude, acquired in 2007. A Pinot Noir with a deep, dark and textured nose, marked by macerated black fruits and floral notes. Abundant fruit, concentration and genuine personality, very pure and fresh.

The Chambolle-Musigny Les Athets is a village cuvée sourced from this lieu-dit within the appellation. A floral and delicate Pinot Noir, faithful to the airy grace of Chambolle, marked by aromas of raspberry, rose and violet, on a silky and refined palate.

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Au Bas de Combe Vieilles Vignes comes from 70-year-old vines planted on the border of Vosne and Nuits, yielding naturally concentrated small berries at low yields. A Pinot Noir with a reticent but beautifully aromatic nose, clearly more Vosne than Nuits in character, round, with a great deal of texture derived from very supple tannins. Deeper and more complex than many village cuvées.

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Argillas is one of the estate's flagship red wines, acquired in 2009–2010 thanks to the war chest built up by Jean Tardy. A Pinot Noir of great breed, marked by a dense substance, complex aromas of black fruits, spices and undergrowth, supported by a noble tannic framework and an exceptional ageing potential.

The Vosne-Romanée Le Vigneux is the estate's flagship cuvée, acquired in 1999, and the only one of its kind declared separately on this lieu-dit located to the north of the village next to Bas Maizières. A Pinot Noir with a broad and complex nose (black cherry, blackcurrant, anise, Vosne spices, rose, bramble, violet), with a rich and velvety palate, mouth-coating, endowed with a fine dry extract that imparts a silky texture to the balanced and impressively long finish.

The Échezeaux Grand Cru Les Treux Vieilles Vignes is the estate's absolute jewel, acquired in 2002 thanks to a group of friends wishing to invest in wine estates. Sourced from vines of 75–80 years, this Grand Cru Pinot Noir presents an exceptional depth of flavour, a very complex dry finish, at once pretty supple and subtle, in a style that is both powerful and refined, characteristic of the great Échezeaux, built for long ageing.