Pierre Gaillard, Condrieu Blanc, Rhône, France, 2022

Overview of the Wine
Pierre Gaillard son of a railwayman, yet at 12 years he had already planted his own vines and plowed the vineyards on horseback. He then followed a course studied viticulture and oenology in Burgundy. He started as vineyard manager in the Rhone valley, but soon he feels the need to plant his own vineyards. In 1981 he planted the Clos de Cuminaille then gradually bought and replanted different hills across the northern Rhone Valley. Today, Pierre Gaillard produces Cote Rotie, St Joseph, Condrieu, Cornas, Crozes Hermitage and St Peray on a farm of 25ha. He also extended Faugères, Banyuls and Collioure where the shale slopes remind him of the Côte Rôtie. His wife and children followed in his adventure and now are in family areas managing vineyards…each bringing his jurisdiction to that of the vine to the glass everything happens for the best.

Grape / Blend
Viognier

Origin
Condrieu, Rhône, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Gaillard’s Condrieu is drawn from four parcels grown on the terraced slopes of Côte Bellay, Les Patasses (Malleval), Boissey (Chavanay) and La Caille (Condrieu). Each of these sites has soils of fine, decomposing granite. In 2022, the vines here yielded 30 hl/ha of vibrant Viognier fruit, and the wine spent seven months in oak, of which 10% was new. One of our favourite aspects of Gaillard’s whites is their ability to combine intense aromatics and ripe, hedonistic textures with bright mineral refreshment, and this is a textbook example of that paradox. It’s a classically alluring, richly textured Condrieu with scents and flavours of honeysuckle and juicy, macerated peach and spice. It combines the year’s flesh and generosity with juicy buoyancy, great length and a very long, stony finish. 

94 Points - Wine Review Online
The Condrieu AOC is a single variety appellation located south of the Côte-Rôtie AOC in France. Viognier (“VEE-on-yay”) is the grape, and the wine it produces is considered the best example of what Viognier can do. It displays a light golden color and elegant aromas of fresh peach, apricot, and pear with notes of honeysuckle blossoms. In the mouth, the peach, apricot and pear flavors are juicy and well balanced with surprisingly crisp acidity. Enjoy it with fresh Lobster, or roast chicken, even with a creamy sauce. (Rebecca Murphy)

Product size: 750ml