2012 Condrieu les Mandouls

Vivid gold. Pear, white peach and honey on the nose, with hints of smoky minerals and sweet butter adding complexity. Fresh orchard fruit and floral flavors are brightened by dusty minerals and a subtle lemon zest note, which adds a bitter edge. Finishes with strong energy and lift, the pear and citrus zest flavors repeating.

The 2012 Condrieu Les Mandouls is a fresh, lively Condrieu that shows the appellation nicely. Apricot, crushed stone, white flowers and freshly sliced peaches are just some of the nuances here and this medium-bodied, lively white has impressive length on the finish. Enjoy it over the coming 3-5 years. Across the board, this is a superb lineup of wines that delivers high quality at all price points. Run by the team at Chapoutier, headed by Pierre-Henri Morel, the wines are made by Damien Brisset. This was a large tasting and I've simply listed the wines in the order we went through them. Within a vintage, the wines are broken up into three categories, the traditional releases, the Lieu-Dit releases, and the selections parcellaires releases. The 2011s are slightly softer and more streamlined than the 2012s. As a whole, they offer charming, supple and more medium-bodied profiles that will reward earlier drinking. Looking at the traditional releases in 2011, these wines show classic, yet approachable and delicious characters. In most cases they represent good value. Importer: A French Paradox, Peoria, IL; tel. (309) 682-8994