Winemaker Notes
Exuberant & gourmand with aromas Peaches, apricots, quince & citrus with sweet flower touches. It is fleshy & fresh.
Pair with lamb tajine with lemon and candied apricots.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Gorgeous notes of pineapple, white peach, spice, and flowers define the 2023 Condrieu La Petite Cote. Ultra-classic, pure, balanced, and elegant on the palate, with integrated acidity and a layered mouthfeel, this is a beautiful Condrieu.
-
Wine Spectator
Nice restraint, not overly ripe in style with touch of toast augmenting plush profile of apricot, pear, thyme and fresh fennel. Salty, briny layer washes through and appealing zesty mineral bite at the well-concentrated finish. Drink now through 2030. 120 cases imported.
-
Vinous
The 2023 Condrieu La Petite Côte is a delightful Viognier. This opens with zesty lemon flesh, white peach, honeysuckle and a touch of apricot. Round and juicy, it packs sufficient freshness and checks out with good drive on the sapid 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.