Condrieu La Doriane 2018
Condrieu
Condrieu is the ancestral home of the Viognier vine and is the source of one of the world’s most exotic white wines. In the mid-20th century, only 20 acres of Viognier remained in Condrieu, leaving the grape and the appellation in serious jeopardy. Guigal was instrumental in bringing this appellation back from near extinction, and today supplements the grapes from their own vineyards with grapes purchased from numerous small growers, ultimately vinifying nearly one-third of the entire appellation.
La Doriane is a luxury cuvée of Condrieu that the Guigals have produced since the 1994 vintage. A great success since the first vintage, the wine always seems richly oaked and very fruity when young, transforming in 3-4 years into a seamlessly complex, aromatic and vibrant wine. La Doriane contradicts the accepted wisdom that Condrieu does not age well.
VINEYARD
The tiny, parcelated appellation (500 acres total) is located on steep granite hillsides beginning at a bend in the Rhône river just south of Côte Rôtie and continuing intermittently about 12 miles further south. The granite hillsides have sand intermixed in their soils, and the vines for this wine average around 30 years of age, and only produce around 2.4 tons of fruit per acre.
The Viognier grapes for this wine are sourced from some of the finest sites in the appellation, including Côtes Chatillon, a steeply terraced vineyard overlooking the town of Condrieu itself. The other vineyards are Coteaux de Chery and Colombier, situated further south, and Château Volan – an exceptionally steep, south-facing vineyard near the town of Malleval.
WINEMAKING
This 100% Viognier wine is fermented and aged in 100% new oak barriques for 12 months, with a higher level of fine lees included in the fermenting must to help the wine integrate the oak character more completely. It undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation as well.
VINTAGE
The 2018 vintage in the Northern Rhône was marked by wet weather through the end of June followed by a relatively hot and dry summer and fall. Quantities in the north were exceptional, while in the south crop levels were impacted by the excessive heat and also mildew. Northern Rhône whites in 2018 are rich, broad, and immediately appealing – a vintage of great ripeness and concentration, with enough structure for balance. Eminently enjoyable in their youth.
TASTING NOTE
Brilliant clear pale golden yellow in color. This wine shows intensely powerful and elegant aromas of white flowers, apricot and white peaches. The palate is immediately fresh, with round, rich and full notes that are expressive of the terroir. Overall, this is a wine of great finesse and freshness; a pleasant light acidity with well balanced fleshy fruit.
Color
White
Grape Varieties
Viognier
Appellation
Condrieu
Farming
Guigal performs several green harvests during the growing season in these vineyards to keep yields exceptionally low.
Alcohol
14.5%
Suggested Retail Price
$140
Reviews
"Flawless overall balance"
Jeb Dunnuck - October 12, 2020 "The 2018 Condrieu La Doriane is a bigger, more luxurious version of the appellation release. Beautiful quince, acacia flowers, apricot, and spice notes emerge from the glass and it builds beautifully on the palate, with medium to full body, integrated acidity, and flawless overall balance. It shows the soft, sexy side to the vintage and is best enjoyed over the coming 4-6 years."
"Energizing spiciness"
Vinous - October 12, 2020 "Light, green-tinged yellow. A hugely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe orchard and pit fruit liqueur, honey, vanilla, exotic flowers and smoky minerals, along with emerging spiciness. Broad and fleshy but shockingly lively as well, offering palate-coating orchard and pit fruit flavors that take on energizing spiciness through the mid-palate. The honey and mineral note reverberate on an extremely long, smooth finish that leaves a refreshingly bitter orange zest note behind."
