Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This lush, concentrated Viognier combines cool-weather weight with summertime echoes of apricots and honey. Hints of toasty oak provide an ample frame for this full-bodied wine that avoids any sense of oiliness or heaviness while remaining bold, rich and long.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Looking at the 2014 whites, this was an average vintage for the reds, but a terrific vintage for the whites. I loved the 2014 Condrieu Domaine des Grands Amandiers and this fresh, elegant Condrieu offers a classic floral character in addition to lots of citrus, tangerine and peach aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness and beautiful length.
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Wine Spectator
Unctuous, with melon, fig and peach notes enlivened by a note of fennel frond, backed by a lingering green almond detail. Offers solid range and purity, but remains a touch shy on energy.
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.