2017 Condrieu
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Tasting notes
Pale, green-tinged gold. Heady citrus and orchard fruit aromas, along with a sexy floral overtone and a hint of peach nectar that gains strength as the wine opens up. Silky in texture and seamless on the palate, offering juicy orange, pear, white peach and honey flavors that show excellent depth as well as energy. The floral note repeats strongly on the long, penetrating finish, which leaves behind a sweet butter note.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Aged in 100% new oak. Quite grassy on the nose, unexpectedly. Rather light on the palate, especially for Condrieu. Chewy, substantial palate with low acidity. The fruit is a bit understated. (RH)
Leading off with the two Condrieu releases, the 2017 Condrieu offers an exotic, fresh, vibrant style that’s going to gain weight with time in bottle. Terrific notes of pineapple, green citrus, and a hint of minerality all flow to a medium-bodied, balanced beauty that I’d be happy to own in quantity. For a hot, hot vintage, the estate preserved freshness and purity. The big news at the Guigal estate is the purchase of Domaine de Nalys in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The family has always wanted an estate in the South, and Nalys is an unrealized treasure trove of awesome terroir and old vines, both of which I’ve no doubt will be maximized by this talented family. In addition, the former winemaker at Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Jacques Desvernois, has joined the team, and while it’s not clear exactly what his role will be, I suspect he will largely lead the charge at Domaine de Nalys. Either way, Desvernois is an incredible talent and can only add to what is already a well-oiled machine. As to the wines reviewed in this report, I was able to taste multiple vintages of each of the cuvées and have listed the wines by cuvée as opposed to by vintage, which is how we tasted through the wines.
Odd vegetal note on the nose, as well as apricot and peach fruit. Strange stemmy note. Not my favourite example of the Condrieu style. (RH)