A lot of smoothness, creaminess. A Wine with generous curves, on notes of soft spices...
The vintage

Strange and paradoxical… This vintage has reserved us quite a few surprises, and
still raises questions. Although described as « Great » by some Vignerons, its strong
heterogeneity, depending on the sectors, imposes us to be attentive, measured, though hopeful.
2018 : the vegetative cycle is early. Spring sees generous rains and heat strokes
alternate. According to “Elders”, from memory one has to get back to the 60’ to observe such pressure of diseases in the vineyard. And, unfortunately for some Domaines, the processing windows would, in the main, only open at the week-ends… The vintage therefore promises to be technically complicated, demanding meticulous, tedious, even relentless work, in the vineyards. Damage and losses vary… but yields on Grenache are historically low… Providentially, once again, we could count on Mother Nature’s final “nudge” ! Without hesitation we can assert that the quality of the remaining grapes, the quality of their juice, is mainly due to a brilliant month of September.
Indeed, the weather conditions during the harvest were almost perfect. Cool but sunny weather, with well-marked, valued, thermal amplitudes… The Vigneron was able to choose in all serenity the ideal moment to harvest, plot of land by plot of land, without having to operate any constrained arbitration…

Terroir

Paton, Chanson, la Bonnette, Malleval

Ageing

Ageing 10 months in new and one year old barrels. Allier, Tronçais and Jupille.

Serving

10°C
Decant just before tasting.

Tasting

A lot of smoothness, creaminess. A Wine with generous curves, on notes of soft spices...

Alcohol content

14%

Bottling

Without fining and light filtration.

Cépages

Viognier : 100 %

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.

Jeb Dunnuck , 92-94/100 , 2019-08-16

Guide Bettane et Desseauve des vins de France , 18/20 , 2018-08-31

Plump, with melon, creamed pear and yellow plum fruit mixed together, laced with green almond and honeysuckle notes on the flattering finish. A hedonist's delight.

James Molesworth
Wine Spectator , 93/100 , 2019-11-30

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.

Joe Czerwinski
Wine Advocate , 91-93/100 , 2019-10-31

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.

Jancis Robinson , 16,5+/20 , 2019-11-11