2018 Condrieu
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Tasting notes
Aged half in new oak and half in second use oak, the 2018 Condrieu is smoky and cedary, yet it still pumps out Viognier's floral aromas. It's medium to full-bodied, with a lovely, silky texture, finishing plush, rich and long, with echoing spice notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
100% Viognier (45 years old). Paton, Chanson, La Bonnette, Malleval. 10 months in new and one-year-old barrels (Allier, Tronçais, Jupille). Cask sample. Pale. Quite heavy and heady on the nose. Juicy and floral but without quite the savoury and dried-apricot undertow of the best Condrieus. Serviceable rather than thrilling. (JR)
100% Viognier. Aged for 10 months in new oak. Tasted blind. Buttery and ripe, although the tropical fruit lacks definition, and the palate is very soupy. (RH)
The 2018 Condrieu is straight-up classic stuff, displaying lots of exotic peach, flowers, and pineapple notes as well as a medium to full-bodied, bright, fresh, yet textured style on the palate. It has subtle oak and spans the gap between the uber-rich and the leaner versions of Condrieu. As I’ve written in the past, this is a top-flight estate making a bevy of brilliant wines from both the northern and southern Rhône. The wines fall into the progressive category and are largely brought up in barrels, with some new, yet the wines never lose their typicity or character. If you like rich, textured, yet pure and impeccably made wines, give these a go.