Michel Tardieu is a micro négociant-éleveur, based in Lourmarin, Provence, producing wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone. The winemaking is now in the hands of his very talented son Bastien, who is making some of the most exciting and expressive wines from the Rhone valley and beyond. Exceptional fruit and hands off approach allow the wines to express their unique terroirs in their greatest glory. Limited production

Maison Tardieu-Laurent was founded in 1994 by Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent in the small but beautiful village of Lourmarin in Provence, although today it is completely in the hands of the Tardieu family and is one of the premier wine producers of the Rhone. This fine red wine is from the southern Rhone appellation of Gigondas and comprises syrah, grenache and mourvedre. Tardieu-Laurent are regarded as one of the consistenly high performers of the Rhone Valley.

Famille Tardieu has become one of the best micro-negociants in the Rhone Valley. Nowadays, Bastien and Michel explore the vineyards to find grapes from very old vines, often located in the historical heart of each appellation. Then the link is made with the wine-grower, from the vine to the harvest.For a wine to carry the Condrieu AOC name it must be made from 100% viognier. This is the home of viognier, where it is produced most famously, in the northern Rhone Valley. The 2018 vintage Condrieu from producers, Tardieu-Laurent, has been warmly received by critics. The wine is rich and round, having spent 10 months in new and 1 year old French oak. Floral aromas come first, followed by creamy, plush peach, honeysuckle, melon and tropical notes, treading a line between the very rich, and leaner styles of Condrieu.

Michel Tardieu is a micro négociant-éleveur, based in Lourmarin, Provence, producing wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone. The winemaking is now in the hands of his very talented son Bastien, who is making some of the most exciting and expressive wines from the Rhone valley and beyond. Exceptional fruit and hands off approach allow the wines to express their unique terroirs in their greatest glory. Limited production

Michel Tardieu is a micro négociant-éleveur, based in Lourmarin, Provence, producing wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone. The winemaking is now in the hands of his very talented son Bastien, who is making some of the most exciting and expressive wines from the Rhone valley and beyond. Exceptional fruit and hands off approach allow the wines to express their unique terroirs in their greatest glory. Limited production

Michel Tardieu is a micro négociant-éleveur, based in Lourmarin, Provence, producing wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone. The winemaking is now in the hands of his very talented son Bastien, who is making some of the most exciting and expressive wines from the Rhone valley and beyond. Exceptional fruit and hands off approach allow the wines to express their unique terroirs in their greatest glory. Limited production

Michel Tardieu is a micro négociant-éleveur, based in Lourmarin, Provence, producing wines from the Northern and Southern Rhone. The winemaking is now in the hands of his very talented son Bastien, who is making some of the most exciting and expressive wines from the Rhone valley and beyond. Exceptional fruit and hands off approach allow the wines to express their unique terroirs in their greatest glory. Limited production

The grapes for this wine come from various vineyards in four specified, named villages of the Gard district of Provence, near Avignon. This part of France is also the home of the Tavel and Lirac appellations. Les Becs Fins is 60% Grenache from vines planted in the late 1950s and 40% Syrah from vines planted in the 1980s. All vineyards are farmed organically on pebbly soils. After fermentation the wine matures for 10 months in concrete tanks before bottling without fining or filtration. The winemaking style is hands-off, with as little artifice as possible. The aim is to produce a wine showing pure fruit characters.