2019 Chateau Grillet

The 2019 Château-Grillet is the first vintage under the helm of Jaeok Chu Cramette. Dazzling and flamboyant, its pungent perfume is reminiscent of apricot and peach compote mingling with layers of honey. Ripe guava, lychee, pineapple and mango add a distinctively tropical twist. Stylistically, the 2019 Château-Grillet couldn’t be more different from the less flashy and more nuanced 2020, 2021 and 2022 renditions. The main reason circles back not only to the amount of heat and sunlight during the growing season, but also to the comparatively late harvest between the 9th and 14th of September. Viscously textured, powerful and concentrated, the 2019 Château-Grillet closes with a touch of heat on the eccentric finale. 4,800 bottles produced.

Viognier. Aged for 18 months in 228- and 300-litre light-toast barrels – one new barrel per year, the others 2–5 years old. Barrel sample. Has some pineapple and chamomile aromas with a lemon-balm note. Lovely rounded attack, which is tight and amazingly well proportioned. Not overpowering in the mouth, but densely concentrated – not oily and shows good freshness. A savoury note with nuts and almonds towards the finish. Really lovely balanced example. Amazing in its youth and looking like it will age superbly. (AC)