2012 Condrieu La Petite Cote
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Tasting notes
(all neutral oak): Bright yellow. Musky, floral peach and citrus pith aromas show very good energy and lift thanks to a zesty mineral nuance. Supple, silky and gently sweet, with ripe tangerine and pit fruit flavors and a touch of anise. A classic example of Condrieu, finishing with excellent cut and lingering minerality.
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Josh Raynolds
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
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The 2012 Condrieu la Petite Cote comes from terraced, southeast facing vineyards located around the town of Chavanay. Pure, clean and classic, with honeyed apricots, white flowers, lavender and tinges of minerality, it is medium-bodied, fresh, and lively, with bright acidity. Enjoy it over the coming couple of years. Yves releases two cuvees from Cornas, and I found the quality consistent in 2012, yet preferred the Vires release by a fair margin in 2011. There are three Saint Joseph cuvees in red: the Les Pierres Seches, which comes from sand and granite soils around the town of Chavanay; the L'Amarybelle, which comes from high density, terraced plantings of older vines; and lastly, the Les Serines, which comes from the oldest vines of the estate and is the only cuvee to see new oak. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant Ltd., Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990