Domaine Georges Vernay2018 Condrieu ‘Les Terrasses de l’Empire’, Georges Vernay
Rhône Valley, FranceVintage: 2018
A benchmark Condrieu – pure peach and apricot aromas are lifted with hints of acacia flowers. Full and creamy with a distinctive mineral expression and a subtle Condrieu saline complexity supporting the ripe stone fruit flavours. This is a pure expression of a very fine Viognier.
The grapes from this wine come from a patchwork of small plots covering four hectares in the lieu-dits of Sainte Agathe and La Caille located in the heart of Condrieu. The vines are planted on steep south-facing granite, biotite terraces where the use of machines is impossible; therefore the vineyard is maintained manually and sustainably, without the use of weed killers or insecticides. The average age of vines is 35 years.
Notable Awards
“The 2018 Condrieu Les Terrasses de L’Empire has a portion brought up in oak, all being used, and it’s always a great introduction into the wines of this estate. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless, it has terrific purity (especially given the heat in the vintage) as well as lots of white flower, salted citrus, tangerine, and a kiss of rocky minerality. Nicely concentrated as well as balanced, this brilliant wine is not far off the two pricier releases. Drink 2020-2030. 94/100.”
Jeb Dunnuck – JebDunnuck.com
Whats in the bottle
100% Viognier
12 Mixed Bottles *
£65.66
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* As part of a mixed case of any 12 bottles
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Description
Georges Vernay is known as the “King of Condrieu” and was responsible for the growth and worldwide recognition of this small appellation during the 1950s. His estate covers 22 hectares of vineyards, six of which are in the Côte Rôtie appellation. The steep and uneven vineyards make mechanical labour impossible. The vines are manually cultivated without the use of residual herbicide or insecticide. Georges’ daughter, Christine, returned to her roots with Paul Anselem, her Parisian husband, and has looked after the winemaking since 1997, gaining worldwide recognition for her Côte Rôtie wines. In 2019, Domaine Georges Vernay was awarded the prestigious 3 stars by ‘La Revue du Vin de France’.
The grapes were manually harvested at full maturity of 13 to 14 degrees; they were then meticulously sorted and pressed. After a static temperature-controlled must settling, the clear juice was fermented in 20 hectolitre oak vats, lasting approximately four to five weeks. The wine was matured on its fine lees in both oak barrels and foudres (vats).
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