Domaine des Entrefaux
Although the Tardy family has been growing grapes for generations, they only began to estate-bottle their Crozes-Hermitage in 1979. As the northern Rhône’s largest appellation, still rising to greatness after decades of over-cropping by the local négociants, real estate here means everything. Domaine des Entrefaux is among the most reputable producers, located to the north of the village of Chanos-Curson. Father and son Charles and Francois Tardy farm 21 hectares of Syrah on the pebbly limestone terrace of Les Chassis, known for producing the finest Crozes-Hermitage reds, and five hectares of Marsanne and Roussanne. In 2000, they began implementing organic farming practices, and in 2012 they earned their official certification. The average yields are a modest 35 to 40 hl/ha compared with the 45 hl/ha authorised within the appellation. Holistic vine treatments, including infusions, composts and cover crops, are used to cultivate healthy microorganisms in the soil and to serve as natural fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.
The Tardys harvest their entire crop by hand. The grapes are de-stemmed, fermented with their native yeasts in concrete vats and after fermentation, pressed gently. François separates the cuvees early, organising them by vine age. He cools the must to 15 to 17°C to retain freshness and slowly brings the temperature up to 30°C by the end of the alcoholic fermentation, which can range between eight days and three weeks, depending on the age of the vines. The wines then age for one year, divided among cement and oak vats, barrels and specialised egg-shaped cement tanks. François bottles the wines unfined and sometimes unfiltered depending on the vintage. Website
Wines Imported
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The Les Pends lieu-dit is one of the very finest for white grapes in Crozes-Hermitage, with Rhône authority John Livingstone-Learmonth describing it as a “high, high-quality terroir”. The vineyard’s appeal lies in its ability to ripen its fruit while retaining a mouth-watering structure courtesy of the limestone-rich soils. François has 1ha of Roussanne and Marsanne planted on this steep hill, made up of what he says is ‘young soil’ (approx 10,000 years old).
This has notes of apricots and almonds, is balanced and racy, with superb energy.
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The ‘Les Pends’ vineyard is considered by many to be one of the top single vineyard growing sites in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. François has 3ha of Syrah here, and makes a delicious, fresh and approachable red, that is full of fresh berry fruit, tinged with herbal notes and definite white pepper. Tannins provide ample backbone for several years of age, though it is definitely ready to go now!
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Made from a selection of the oldest, low yielding vines, partly from the hilly area of Mercurol, a clay-limestone terroir facing south/southeast and partly from the alluvial plateau of Beaumont. The soils in these regions are 50,000-80,000 years old. 80% of the resulting juice is aged in old french oak barrels for 12-18 months, and the remaining 20% is aged in terracotta amphora.
Winery tasting notes: “Deep colour, powerful nose but respecting the grapes, strongly spicy notes, peppery with a dense mouthfeel, a fleshy texture framed by tannins, ripe, fatty and tactile. An autumn and winter wine because it is rich and generous.”
