Vintage Sardines – 2023

2023 Vintage Sardines by Mademoiselle Perle, already rounded and matured

The 2023 vintage sardines from La Perle des Dieux are matured sardines in oil from the Vendée, caught at the end of the season and aged for a good three years in extra virgin olive oil. A melt-in-the-mouth delicacy that has moved past its initial aging stage – with a piece of happy news on the lid.

2023 Vintage Sardines are matured sardines in oil from the Conserverie La Perle des Dieux in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, in the Vendée on the Atlantic coast south of Brittany. Caught at the end of the season, when the sardines had a fat content of about 12%, and preserved ever since – the 2023 vintage has already been aging for a good three years, a melt-in-the-mouth treat that has already shed its sharp, fresh edge.

Soft, mild, already velvety

After a good three years, the 2023 vintage presents itself as a "fondant": the flesh is tenderer and rounder, the clear saltiness having given way to a gentle roundness.

The extra virgin olive oil wraps around the fish mildly, with a deep, calm oceanic note in the background. And the journey continues: if you give it more time, it will become softer and more velvety year after year, until it melts like butter on the tongue.

On bread, on a board, with wine

A matured vintage like this tastes best in its simplicity – good bread, a glass of wine, the soft maturity needs nothing more.

Crusty bread with a little butter and a dry Vouvray carry the 2023 vintage without any distractions. It also works well on a snack platter or with a pinch of Piment d'Espelette to add a little accent. You can find more ideas in our sardines in olive oil collection.

For further aging: turn the tin every 6 months so that the oil covers the fish completely. Stored in a cool, dark place, the 2023 vintage will continue to age towards an "exception" and will keep for a good ten years.

Happy news on the tin

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

Together with Philippe Gendreau, whose family has been preserving fish for four generations, she wanted to restore the sardine to its former glory – using art instead of nets on the tins. This is how the poetic Mademoiselle Perle by Delphine Cossais from Nantes and the colorful Lulu by Coralie Joulin were created. Caught fresh, the sardines are cleaned and tinned by hand within 48 hours.

The 2023 motif is called "L'heureuse nouvelle de Mlle Perle" (Mademoiselle Perle's happy news) and shows Madame Perle announcing her offspring – the happy tidings. Anyone looking to celebrate a birth or a new beginning will find a charming little gift in this tin and another collectible piece from the La Perle des Dieux vintage sardine series.

Content 115 g – Drained weight 86.3 g