Vintage Sardines – 2017

2017 Vintage Sardines by Mademoiselle Perle, mature and velvety

The 2017 vintage sardines from La Perle des Dieux are sardines in extra virgin olive oil from the Vendée, caught at the end of the season and aged in the tin for years. A fully matured vintage – and a collector's item featuring Mademoiselle Perle on the lid.

2017 vintage sardines are matured sardines in olive oil from the La Perle des Dieux cannery in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, in the Vendée on the French Atlantic coast, south of Brittany. Caught at the end of the season, when the sardines had about 12% fat content, and confited ever since – the 2017 vintage has already been maturing for a good nine years, a true "sardine d'Exception."

Tender and deep in finish

After almost a decade in the tin, the flesh is soft and melting, the aroma deep and calm.

The French call such a mature vintage "d'Exception," and you can taste why: no longer a trace of the sharp freshness of the young catch, but rather velvety richness, nutty depth, and a long finish of the sea and olive oil. A fish that has come to rest over the years.

Classic on bread or with an East Asian twist

Eating them plain is the simplest way: the sardine on toasted bread, a few drops of its oil, a little fleur de sel.

A cool Chablis accompanies them in this simple form without getting in the way of the velvety richness. Fitting with the "au Japon" theme, they also taste delicious on lukewarm rice with a few drops of soy sauce and sesame – the mature fish effortlessly stands up to the strong flavors. You can find more ideas in our sardines in olive oil collection.

If you want to let the vintage age further: turn the tin every 6 months so that the oil covers the fish completely. Stored in a cool, dark place, such a vintage will keep for a good decade or more.

Mademoiselle Perle travels the world

La Perle des Dieux is arguably the most feminine cannery in the industry – founded in 2005 by Claudie Vardelle, who was previously at home in the Parisian fashion world.

Together with Philippe Gendreau, whose family has been preserving canned fish for four generations, she wanted to restore the sardine to its nobility: no fishermen or nets on the tins, but the signature of young female artists. This resulted in two series – the poetic Mademoiselle Perle by Delphine Cossais from Nantes and the colorful Lulu by Coralie Joulin. Fresh from the catch, the sardines are cleaned and packed by hand within 48 hours.

Every year, Delphine Cossais sends her Mademoiselle to a new country. The 2017 motif is called "Mlle Perle au Japon" and shows her in a kimono. This makes every tin a little collector's item – you can find more of them among the vintage sardines from La Perle des Dieux, from the young primeur to the mature exception.

Content 115 g – Drained weight 86.3 g