Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambee Blanc D'Or 2010
-
Wine
Spectator -
Wine &
Spirits
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
A lush style, with ample creamed pear, fig, warm piecrust and glazed peach notes all rolling through the rounded, flattering finish. But there are also flashes of pear skin and anise that add length and cut, as the finish just hangs on and on. Quietly one of the top bottlings in the appellation. Drink now through 2015. 417 cases made.
-
Wine & Spirits
A cuvée made from purchased grapes, this dazzles with its texture, a rich, broad, smooth blanket of satin. It slips over the tongue with ease and delicacy, the acidity strong and well wrapped in peach and apricot flavor. Minerality emerges in the finish, stony and firm, suggesting that this will be good to go for another six to eight years in the cellar. Domaine Select Wine Estates, NY
Full-figured and charmingly floral, Viognier is one of the most important white grapes of the northern Rhône where it is used both to produce single varietal wines and as an important blending grape. Look for great New World examples from California, Oregon, Washington and cooler parts of Australia. Somm Secret—Viognier plays a surprisingly important role in the red wines of Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône. About 5% Viognier is typically co-fermented with the Syrah in order to stabilize the color, and as an added benefit, add a subtle perfume.
As the source of some of the most vibrant and powerful white wines in France, Condrieu is uniquely situated in one of the northern outposts of the Rhone River. It is the original Viognier appellation with a wine growing history reaching back well over two thousand years. Like most of the wine regions of the Northern Rhone, Condrieu’s vines grow on extremely steep and narrow granite terraces. But what makes the region unique is a topsoil, locally called, “arzelle,” made of decomposed mica. This and a sheltering of the harsh northern winds, make optimal sites to produce opulent and brilliant Viognier. It is a tiny zone with no room for expansion and produces miniscule amounts of wine each year, contributing to its allure.
A fine Condrieu will have aromas and flavors suggestive of ripe stone fruit, lime peel, green almond, ginger, white flowers and toasted nuts. A honeyed smell may mislead you to think the wine will be sweet but the modern style favors totally dry on the palate. Its texture will be full and soft but a touch of mineral will provide great balance.