Crozes-Hermitage (8) Domaine du Murinais, with Luc and Valentin Tardy

February 18, 2025February 26, 2025 jamiegoode 419 Views crozes-hermitage, Northern Rhone

Luc Tardy took over Domaine du Murinais from his father in 1988, and immediately stopped growing peaches, choosing to focus on vines. At the time, his father was selling grapes to the cooperative. The farm is located in Beaumont-Monteux, and it’s 40 hectares. It’s been in the family for seven generations, and Luc’s grandfather specialised in goats. Now there are 22 hectares of vines here.

The soils are alluvial, and have lots of sand, but also a bit of clay. In the bits where there’s more clay, whites have been planted. ‘The soil doesn’t mind drought or heavy rain,’ says Luc. They have 2 hectares of whites, with two-thirds Marsanne and a third Roussanne.

Farming is now biodynamic, and they were certified in 2021

Valentin, his son, is now working here, and he’s quite pleased with the results of the 2024 harvest, after a tricky growing season. ‘It’s a good vintage, with a great balance to the fruit,’ he says. We tasted some 2024s in the cellar.

Roussanne from egg: youthful and light with nice fruit. Rounded and pretty.
Same Roussanne, from new barrel: textured and fine, with freshness (Luc never used oak for whites, but Valentin wants to try it).
Marsanne from egg: interesting, textural and rich with nice spicy detail. Broad and energetic at the same time.
Marsanne from new oak barrel: some wood spice and breadth, finishing spicy.
Syrah from sandy alluvial soils: very fruity and direct. Pure, with a peppery edge and lovely intensity. Lively and balanced: this is really good.
Syrah from Les Coteaux, in foudre: vivid with red cherries and a hint of reduction. Some spice, iron, blood and minerals.
Syrah from Les Amandiers in a Taransaud demi-muid: lots of oak, and spicy, firm, savoury fruit. A second barrel is more supple with a saline edge to the vivid peppery fruit.
Syrah Les Paressots in small oak: vivid, fresh, vital and peppery with intense red fruits and a bit of grip. A second barrel is light but intense with lovely elegance. And a third, from older vines is vibrant and alive with lovely berry fruits.

Valentin has taken the wines in a fresher direction, but Luc is happy to make wines that are less heavy and rich.

Domaine du Murinais Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Cuvée Marine 2023 France
Half/half Roussanne and Marsanne, in concrete egg and stainless steel. Full yellow colour. Lovely density of sweet pear and peach fruit with some grapey richness and a fresh mandarin finish. Lovely balance here. 94/100

Domaine du Murinais Les Amandiers Crozes-Hermitage 2022 France
Wonderful sweet cherry fruit nose is supple and fresh with sleek, sweet red fruits on the palate. Real elegance here with fine spices, fresh fruit and some peppery notes. Alert and lovely. 94/100

Domaine du Murinais Vieilles Vignes Crozes-Hermitage 2022 France
Brooding, sweetly fruited nose with pepper, wood spice and sweet cherries and berries. The palate is supple and sweetly fruited with a bit of grip behind the sweet berry fruits. Firm, grippy finish. 93/100

Domaine du Murinais Les Parressots Crozes-Hermitage 2022 France
30% new oak. This is the plot next to the Isere river which cools it down. Vivid, fresh and focused with refined raspberry and cherry fruit, showing elegance and poise but also lovely peppery red fruits. So elegant but still has some oak influence in the background. Lots of potential. 94/100

Domaine du Murinais Caprice de Valentin Crozes-Hermitage 2016 France
This is the old name for Les Parressots. Warm and sweetly aromatic, this is ripe with lovely black fruits and olives. The palate is dense and full with nice structure and full-on berry and black fruits. Still has some firmness with a wall of rich fruit. This could age longer. 93/100

Domaine du Murinais Caprice de Valentin Crozes-Hermitage 2009 France
This is lovely. Dense and yet elegant with full blackberry and black cherry fruit, as well as fine gravelly hints. Strong, with potential for further development. Mineral and fine, with meaty richness allied with finesse. 95/100

Domaine du Murinais
1890 Rte du Laboureur, 26600 Beaumont-Monteux
+33 (0)6 25 32 02 74

CROZES-HERMITAGE

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