Domaine GEORGES VERNAY Condrieu 'Les Terrasses de l'Empire' 2020

Robert Parker 92/100

'Bottled in June 2021, a bit earlier than usual, the 2020 Condrieu les Terrasses de l'Empire is another terrific entry-level Condrieu. Floral up front, plump and frankly delicious, it delivers plenty of ripe pineapple and apricot flavors, ample weight and richness on the palate and a long finish tinged with hints of fresh ginger and cracked pepper. Drink it over the next few years.'Joe Czerwinski

Domaine Georges Vernay is one of the oldest and most famous estates in Condrieu. Georges highly contributed to the reintroduction of Viognier on the hillsides of the region when in 1960’s the appellation used to cover only 8 hectares.

Today the domaine is managed by Georges’ daughter Christine and her husband Paul. The vineyard covers 8 hectares in Condrieu, 2.5 hectares in Côte-Rôtie and 1.5 hectares in Saint-Joseph and the rest being located in IGP Collines Rhôdaniennes and Côtes-du-Rhône. Their Condrieu are made from vineyards in the heart of the appellation and all express the purest; most restrained expression of the Viognier grape.

For over 20 years, Christine Vernay has used organic farming methods. Considering herself as the custodian of a land for which she is responsible for caring, she has long been committed to organic farming, long before it was fashionable or urgent to do so. She has now successfully demonstrated that, while it is difficult to work the steeply sloping vineyards using organic farming, it is not impossible.