Vintage Sardines Lulu - 2018

Lulu 2018 Vintage Sardines, butter-tender after years in the tin

La Perle des Dieux Lulu 2018 vintage sardines 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 millésime among sardines – matured, rich, and presented in a decorative collector's tin.

Lulu 2018 vintage sardines are matured sardines in olive oil from La Perle des Dieux in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, the old fishing port southwest of Nantes. Caught when the sardines had about 12% fat at the end of the season and confited in the tin ever since – the 2018 vintage has now been maturing for about eight years, and it carries its age with grandeur.

Butter-tender, with a calm depth

A mature vintage of the "d'Exception" class: the meat has become butter-tender, the flavor deep and balanced.

Fresh sardines jump out at you, but this one rests gently on the tongue. Salty, mild, with an oiliness that carries rather than greases – and a long, round finish. Time has turned this little fish into a grand delicacy.

On bread with radishes and chilled wine

Sardine on buttered farmhouse bread, a few slices of radish, a little coarse salt – a snack can hardly be simpler or more beautiful.

A chilled Chablis or a dry Riesling provides the perfect cool counterpoint for the 2018 vintage. If you prefer it warmer, lift the sardines from the oil just before serving and place them on lukewarm bread. You can find more from the sea in our French tinned fish collection.

A tip for further aging at home: turn the tin over every 6 months so that the oil coats every side. This way, the vintage only gets better over the years and will easily last a decade.

Tins designed by young artists

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 canning fish for four generations, she had a fine idea: instead of fishermen and nets, artists should design the lids. Thus, two series run side-by-side – the Mademoiselle Perle by Delphine Cossais and Lulu by the painter Coralie Joulin, whose inspiration, Lucienne, worked in the factory for over forty years.

The 2018 motif is called "Lulu en sari indien" and shows Lulu in an Indian sari, with her umbrella cheekily slung over her shoulder. A new picture every year, each tin a small work of art – you can find vintage sardines from La Perle des Dieux with us across many vintages, as well as the sister series, Mademoiselle Perle.

Content 115 g – Drained weight 86.3 g