2019 Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer
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Tasting notes
The 2019 Condrieu Les Chaillees De L'Enfer is a step up. From a site next to Vernon and brought up in foudre and barrel (15% new), its medium gold hue is followed by a terrific nose of white peach, hints of orange blossom, flowers, and honeysuckle, with just a kiss of toasty nuances. It too holds onto a terrific sense of purity and freshness and has a great finish. It never has the weight or density of the Coteau de Vernon but has a more vibrant style all its own. It’s a gorgeous wine.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
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From the mid-slope portion of the lieu-dit of La Caille, from vines planted in the 1960s and '70s, the 2019 Condrieu les Chaillees de l'Enfer ratchets up the intensity over the entry-level Les Terrasses de l'Enfer. Rich, ripe notes of melon and apricot are joined by hints of spring flowers and toasted grain (this cuvée spends a year in a mix of foudre and barrique, 20% new). It's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and opulent, balanced by a long, spicy finish.
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.