Winemaker Notes
Intensely aromatic with apricot, white peach and honeysuckle; layered with toasted almond, vanilla and spice. Full-bodied yet vibrant, finishing long and mineral.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Rich and mineral, loads of puppy fat but good freshness. The sweetness from the oak melds well to the dry fruits. A very good, fresh and vibrant vintage of La Doriane, the generous oak spice is inlaid throughout. Long and precise. From lieux-dits Côte Chatillon, Chéry, Vernon, Colombier and Volan. All aged in new oak barriques.
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Vinous
The 2024 Condrieu La Doriane brings together grapes from five different lieux-dits (Côte Chatillon, Vernon, Chéry, Verlieu and Volan) and is aged for ten months in 100% new oak barriques. Pronounced flintstone, lightly ripe apricot, white peach and melon lead the aromatics. Richly weighted, concentrated and dense, the 2024 is a gorgeous La Doriane, carrying its final notes forward with impressive persistence on the long, lingering finish.
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.