2016 Condrieu Les Terroirs
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Condrieu Les Terroirs offers a ripe, spice-filled bouquet that includes plenty of citrus, tangerine, and orange blossom notes. With bright acidity, medium body, and a rounded textured, it's one of the more fresh, juicy wines in the vintage.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Merlin's 2016 Condrieu les Terroirs is a full-bodied, intense beauty to drink young. Fermented and aged in 20% new oak (a mix of demi-muids and 228-liter barrels is used), it shows hints of pencil shavings, crushed stone, apricot and pineapple. Sure, it could use more texture and complexity, but why quibble? Just suck it down for its luscious fruit.
Limpid straw-gold. Aromas of fresh peach, nectarine, violet and honey are enlivened by a zesty mineral element. Broad and supple but energetic in the mouth, offering intense orchard and pit fruit flavors and a hint of candied orange zest. The floral character comes back on a long, sappy finish that features suggestions of bitter pear skin and ginger.
About the producer
François Merlin is one of the most exciting names in the Northern Rhône today, producing elegant Syrah and Viognier.