Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive

Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvée Tardive is a 750ml, 13% ABV old-vine Gamay from the Fleurie appellation in Beaujolais, France. Sourced from vines approximately 80 years old and scored 93+ points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate on the 2022 vintage, this cuvée stands apart as one of the most structured and age-worthy expressions in Fleurie.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13%  |  Origin: Fleurie, Beaujolais, France  |  100% Gamay  |  Producer: Alain Coudert, Clos de la Roilette

Production & Heritage

Clos de la Roilette is among the most respected domaines in Fleurie, stewarded by the Coudert family. The Cuvée Tardive draws exclusively from the estate's oldest vines — roughly 80 years of age — planted on a distinctive clay soil found within a radius of only about 50 hectares. The wine undergoes approximately 90% of its élevage in large foudres over eight months, building structure without imposing oak flavors. The name "Tardive" does not indicate late harvest, as is commonly assumed; it instead signals the wine's inherent need and ability to age for years, developing complexity well beyond what most Beaujolais delivers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with restrained dark fruit — black plums and crème de cassis — before revealing layers of roses, fresh thyme, woodsmoke, and a discreet smoky topnote. With air, bitter chocolate and dark soil tones emerge beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is juicy and concentrated, with black cherry and dark raspberry dominating the front palate. At mid-palate, the wine's old-vine density becomes apparent — a rich, full mouthfeel carrying cassis, baking spice, and a distinctive nutty character. Medium-plus acidity keeps everything taut and lifted, while slightly chalky, grippy tannins provide real structural backbone unusual for Fleurie.

Finish: The finish is medium-long with zesty acidity and fine-grained tannins that linger alongside dark fruit and a faint mineral echo. It closes cleanly, inviting another sip while hinting at the considerable development this wine will gain with cellaring.

How to Drink Cuvée Tardive

Pour this wine at a cool cellar temperature — around 58–62°F — and give it 30 minutes to open in the glass or a brief decant if drinking young. Its structure and depth reward patient sipping on its own. For cocktails, Gamay of this caliber is best left undiluted, but lighter preparations can work: a Beaujolais Sangria with dark berries and citrus plays to its fruit intensity; a chilled Gamay Spritz with sparkling water and a twist of orange highlights its acidity; and a simple red wine cobbler over crushed ice with seasonal fruit showcases its juicy core without masking complexity.

Best For

• Cellaring five to ten years to explore Beaujolais aging potential
• Impressing wine enthusiasts who think they know Gamay's limits
• Pairing with autumn and winter dinner menus built around roasted meats
• Gifting to collectors seeking serious Cru Beaujolais bottlings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cuvée Tardive taste like? It delivers concentrated dark cherry, black plum, and cassis wrapped in grippy tannins, with secondary layers of bitter chocolate, fresh thyme, and woodsmoke. The profile is notably darker and more structured than a typical Fleurie.

How does Cuvée Tardive compare to Moulin-à-Vent? Wine professionals describe it as sitting between a classic Fleurie — floral and elegant — and a Moulin-à-Vent, which is traditionally more structured and muscular. The unique clay soils at Clos de la Roilette give Cuvée Tardive a tannic grip and depth closer to Moulin-à-Vent while retaining Fleurie's aromatic finesse.

Is Cuvée Tardive good for cellaring? Yes — the name "Tardive" specifically references the wine's need and ability to age for years, and its old-vine concentration, tannin structure, and bright acidity all support medium- to long-term cellaring.

Where is Cuvée Tardive made? It is produced by Alain Coudert at the Clos de la Roilette estate in the Fleurie cru of Beaujolais, located in eastern France between Lyon and Mâcon. Fleurie is one of the ten Beaujolais crus recognized for producing the region's finest wines.

What foods pair well with Cuvée Tardive? Roasted duck breast complements its dark fruit and earthy undertones. Coq au vin mirrors its regional roots and matches its structure. Grilled lamb chops stand up to its tannins without overpowering the fruit. Aged Comté cheese echoes the wine's nutty character. Mushroom risotto aligns with its soil-driven aromatics.

What sizes does Cuvée Tardive come in? It is most commonly available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Cuvée Tardive worth the price? It positions as a premium Cru Beaujolais expression, priced above everyday Gamay but well below comparably scored Burgundy. For a 93+ point old-vine wine with genuine aging potential, it represents strong value within the broader French red wine landscape.

Why Cuvée Tardive?

What separates this bottling from the broader Fleurie category — and from Clos de la Roilette's own standard cuvée — is its origin on 80-year-old vines rooted in rare clay soils found in only a small pocket of the appellation. That terroir, combined with patient foudre aging, produces a wine that challenges assumptions about Gamay's ceiling. The 93+ point score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate on the 2022 vintage confirms what serious Beaujolais collectors already know: Cuvée Tardive is among the most compelling arguments for treating Cru Beaujolais with the same respect as fine Burgundy.