2020 Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer
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Tasting notes
Banana, toast, apricot, spice – the full works of Condrieu. Expressive, luscious and lengthy with outstanding clarity of flavour. Nobody does it better; makes me feel sad for the rest. (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
More brioche, toasted bread, honeyed minerality, and exotic peach and tropical fruits emerge from the 2020 Condrieu Les Chaillees De L'Enfer, which comes from a parcel just beside the Côteau Vernon. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with plenty of richness, it's that rare ability of Condrieu to pair richness with freshness that makes this wine so special. I love these wines in their youth (and I always recommend drinking them in their first 5-7 years), but these have the ability to evolve for over a decade.
100% Viognier. Aged 12–18 months in barrel (25% new oak). Organic. Dense but initially discreet. Opens in the glass to peach and pear notes. Purity and elegance on the palate. Supple but with a zesty kick and good length and persistence. Saline note on the finish. (JL)
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.