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-vinefruit 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.

100% Syrah. This wine showcases a deep purple hue with intense aromatic complexity. The nose reveals cassis, crushed stone, pencil shavings, and spring flowers, intertwined with subtle hints of bacon fat and black pepper spice. On the palate, it is full-bodied and structured, offering layers of red and blue fruits, smoky undertones, and a vibrant minerality. The ripe tannins and balanced acidity contribute to a long, refined finish, highlighting the power and finesse of Saint-Joseph’s granite-rich terroir

Another killer wine, the 2019 Saint-Joseph Vieilles Vignes reveals a dense purple color to go with loads of red and blue fruits, bacon fat, cured meat, and spring flowers. Offering classic Saint-Joseph minerality, medium to full-bodied richness, and plenty of both acidity and tannins, it's going to shine for 15 years or more. ~93-95+ Jeb Dunnuck

Notes of blackberries, blueberries, violets, charcoal and smoked meat on the nose. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins. Juicy and plushwith inky, smoky character. Flavorful finish with good length. Drink or hold. ~93 James Suckling

Luscious flavors of roasted plums and blackberry preserves take center stage in this ripe, rather massive expression of the Northern Rhône. Vinified with 50% destemmed grapes and matured in a combination of new and one-year old barrels, the robust yet freshly balanced wine maintains characteristic nuances of crushed olive, violet and bramble. Soft in tannins, it's immediately enjoyable but should hold through 2027 at least.  ~93 Wine Enthusiast

This lets a silky-textured core of cherry and plum preserve notes unfurl slowly, carried by a bright iron streak and dotted with white pepper and savory accents on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2030. 750 cases made, 200 cases imported. ~ 93 Wine Spectator

Darkly coloured and deeply fruited, it's opulent for a Saint-Joseph, but not overdone on the oak. There are violets and a little herbal vein, but this is mostly about the deep, dark berry fruits. The alcohol is clearly high but there's no alcohol heat. Long. Very enjoyable and very drinkable. ~92 Decanter

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