DOMAINE TARDIEUX-GAL

“Simon’s winemaking is his way of building synergy between makers and farmers; people and their sustenance.”

Domaine Overview

Year Founded: 1977

Winemaker: Simon Tardieux and Jerome Gal

Location: Thésée, Loire

Size: 17 hectares

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Pineau d‘Aunis, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Côt

Farming: Certified organic

In 2009, Simon returned to his hometown Thésée itching to reconnect with the land. He found himself learning alongside local Alain Courtault in his organically farmed vineyards. Soon Alain started holding more and more of his own grapes instead of selling them, and over time the pair developed a profile of wines that express simplicity and quality. Native yeast fermentation, exclusive hand-harvesting, and aging without oak are pillars of the winemaking.

You can’t understand Tardieux-Gal’s wines without knowing Simon’s intentionality behind their production: He organizes collective education and regenerative activities in the Loire, urging everyone to invest in the future of the land. Jerome Gal, a former vineyard worker, was named as Simon’s new partner, and the domaine’s name reflects their collaboration.

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The Wines

Touraine Sauvignon Sagères

Each year, Domaine Tardieux-Gal begins their harvest with the Les Sagères vineyard. This flinty site is located at the top of the hillside of the village of Thésée, on the right bank of the Cher River. This terroir showcases an aromatic and floral expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Domaine Tardieux-Gal's vines have been certified organic since 1998. Grapes are hand harvested and vinified with native yeasts, with no added sugar and only a small amount of sulfites used.

Touraine Chenonceaux Avec Vue Sur le Cher

Avec Vue Sur le Cher comes from a vineyard plot planted in 2002 on one of the first slopes of the Cher River. The site has a southeastern exposure, with a nearly 4% slope, and is dominated by filtering clay-limestone soils.

Touraine Chenonceaux Les Maselles

Domaine Tardieux-Gal planted vines in 2003 near the Cher River under the newly classified AOC of Touraine. This parcel of Sauvignon Blanc makes a fine, mineral-laden white wine.

Fruit is direct-pressed and spontaneously fermented with native yeasts, then aged in stainless steel tanks on fine lees.

Touraine Sauvignon Les Parcs

Les Parcs is the coolest hillside vineyard in Thésée, located on the right bank of the Cher. With clay-limestone soils, the vineyards selected for this cuvée showcase a fully ripe Sauvignon Blanc, which is fruit-forward and mineral-driven at the same time.

Fruit is direct-pressed and spontaneously fermented in steel and fiberglass tanks, then aged for 6 months in steel vats.

Vin de France Rosé Pineau d’Aunis

Les Peronnes is an east-facing clay-limestone slope located on the right bank of the Cher River. Domaine Tardieux-Gal’s vineyard of Pineau d’Aunis boasts grapes that create a wonderfully drinkable and aromatic rosé.

Fruit is direct-pressed and spontaneously fermented with native yeasts. Aged 6 months in steel vats without fining and with minimal filtration.

Touraine Rouge Dialogues

2018 was a smooth harvest, except for the final days. The domaine had two varieties left to harvest, but only one tank. The solution: co-ferment the two varieties in the same tank, offering balance to the overall finished product.

Fruit is destemmed, co-fermented with native yeasts, and macerated for 20 days. Aged 10 months in stainless steel tanks.

Touraine Rouge Tradition

Tardieux-Gal's cuvée 'Tradition' is a blend of their own Gamay and Côt. When making the blend, their goal is to create a rich and fruity wine that's ready to share after a short amount of time in bottle.

Short maceration (6-15 days) with whole clusters for Gamay and destemmed grapes for Côt, followed by malolactic fermentation and 6 months of aging in fiberglass tanks.

Touraine Pineau d’Aunis Le Temps d’Aunis

For this cuvée, all you need is Pineau d'Aunis and plenty of time. Fruit is spontaneously fermented with native yeasts, followed by 10 days of maceration. Six months elevage in stainless steel.