2015 Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer
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Tasting notes
A bigger, richer wine in every way, the 2015 Condrieu Les Chaillees De L'Enfer is a seriously good, hedonistic beauty that's loaded with caramelized peach, hints of apricot, brioche and white flowers. It's a big, rich, powerful wine, yet it has terrific elegance, nuances and length. The benchmark estate in Condrieu is unquestionably that of Christine Vernay, who pulls from the magical hillside of Coteau du Vernon located just behind her home. This is pure granite terroir and all three of her Condrieu come basically from this steep hillside. Christine prefers a slightly longer élevage on her Condrieu, with the 2015s being the current release. I’ll review her 2016s next year. In addition to heavenly Condrieu, she makes a terrific set of Côte Rôtie.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
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Vernay's 2015 Condrieu les Chaillees de l'Enfer features scents of toasted almond and vanilla framing ripe pineapple fruit. Only medium-bodied, the wine is quite zippy and fresh, especially considering the heat of the vintage.
(25 percent new oak) Pale gold. Sexy, highly energetic aromas of white peach, pear nectar, melon and tangerine carry a bright floral overtone. Juicy, focused and densely packed, showing a suave interplay of richness and vivacity to the orchard and pit fruit and floral flavors. Shows superb power and depth on the strikingly long finish, which echoes the peach and tangerine qualities.
About the producer
A legendary name, Domaine Georges Vernay crafts some of the finest whites in the world, having championed Condrieu when it was on the brink of extinction. The estate is best known for its single-site Coteau de Vernon Condrieu and is now in the hands of the third and fourth generation of the family.