Georges Vernay
Northern Rhone (France)
“For a dry wine it has an opulence that borders on the narcotic. To think this style was nearly lost forever is chilling. Georges Vernay played a vital role in its history, and the domaine that bears his name remains the appellation’s most famous. However, while Condrieu made the Vernay name, its Côte-Rôties have also been turning heads.” – Decanter
Christine Vernay has now fully established herself. She is not just a top Condrieu vigneron, but a top Northern Rhône vigneron, period.” – James Molesworth (Wine Spectator)
GEORGES VERNAY
COND. "LES TERRASSES DE L'EMPIRE" 2015
TASTING NOTE
Robert Parker, “Always the first to be bottled, the 2015 Condrieu les Terrasses de L’Empire is the largest production Condrieu and it spends eight months in barrel. It’s a bigger, richer wine than the Pied du Samson, yet is still fresh and lively, with perfumed notes of crisp white peach, white flowers, mint and a touch of honeyed minerality. Clean and focused on the palate, with integrated acidity and a great finish, it should be drunk over the coming 4-5 years.”
GEORGES VERNAY
COND. "LES TERRASSES DE L'EMPIRE" 2014
TASTING NOTE
Robert Parker, “A no-brainer purchase for anyone interested in Condrieu, the 2014 Condrieu les Terrasses de l’Empire offers the classic richness and texture of the appellation (and the variety), while staying fresh, elegant and classy. Offering a subtle saltiness in its notes of ripe peach, orange blossom and honeysuckle, drink this medium-bodied, balanced and lengthy white over the coming 2-3 years.”
Jancis Robinson, “Very correct nose with that attractive savour that sets Condrieu apart from varietal Viognier but this example still has lots of acidity that needs to dissipate.”
GEORGES VERNAY
VIOGNIER "LE PIED DE SAMSON” 2019
TASTING NOTE
Jancis Robinson, “A little bit sweeter, more obviously fruity and less savoury than the 2018. Certainly a pure varietal example but perhaps it needs a little more time to gain complexity. Cantaloupe melon with a squeeze of lime at the moment, but impressive length.”
Wine Spectator, “High-toned for a Viognier, with white peach, green almond and talc notes that race along, with an echo of honeysuckle on the breezy finish. Drink now through 2021. 750 cases made”
GEORGES VERNAY
COND. "LES TERRASSES DE L'EMPIRE" 2017
TASTING NOTE
Robert Parker, “The floral, expressive 2017 Condrieu les Terrasses de l’Empire was the only one of the 2017 Condrieu to have been bottled at the time of my visit. Ten percent is barrel fermented, with the remainder in wooden vats. Pineapple and apricot notes dominate this medium to full-bodied, rich, textural wine that somehow manages to retain terrific freshness on the zesty-briny finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent results.”
Jancis Robinson, “Ten months in old oak. Creamy, sweet and fleshy. Combines generous stone fruit with lovely pithy texture and low acid but still a sense of freshness. Chewy, sweetly fruited finish – but just a touch of oxidation, oddly. Thick but not gloopy.”
GEORGES VERNAY
COND. "LES TERRASSES DE L'EMPIRE" 2016
TASTING NOTE
Robert Parker, “Vernay’s only 2016 Condrieu to be bottled at the time of my tasting, the 2016 Condrieu les Terrasses de l’Empire reflects the restrained house style, marrying appealing notes of honeysuckle and lime with crushed stone. It expands slightly into a pleasantly plump mid-palate, then finishes dry, crisp and austere. It should drink well for a few years.”
Jancis Robinson, “Sumptuous and silky textured with very seductive rich aromas but quite enough freshness. Long and rather glorious.”
GEORGES VERNAY
CONDRIEU "COTEAU DE VERNON" 2018
TASTING NOTE
Jancis Robinson, “Pale apricot colour. Very full and tender but not flabby. There is tension here but there is even more savoury depth than in the Chaillées de l’Enfer. Yet this is so far from heavy that it’s almost flirtatious. Apricot and may-blossom flavours but the underlying granite makes its tense, chewy presence felt. Broad but not fat with some reviving bitterness on the end. Serve with deserving food.” Wine Spectator, “Plump and showy up front, with apricot, peach and mango flavors taking the lead, back by a warmed brioche note on the finish. This has depth and weight, but stays lively, with a flash of green tea and buried minerality showing at the very end to keep it honest. Hard to lay off now, but this has the density to cellar a bit as well. Drink now through 2027. 580 cases made”
GEORGES VERNAY
CONDRIEU "COTEAU DE VERNON" 2017
TASTING NOTE
Robert Parker, “The 2017 Condrieu Coteaux du Vernon comes across as more similar stylistically to the 2015 than to the 2016. It has explosive floral and tropical fruit aromas but then seems tight, citrusy and crisp, with some resiny-oaky notes on the medium to full-bodied palate. It’s the rare Condrieu that (at least in this vintage) needs a year or two to come into its own, but it should drink well through at least 2025.” Jancis Robinson, “Sweet fruit, superb definition and clarity. Tremendous length – that apricot fruit stays on the palate relentlessly. Still has ageing potential. What a wine!” Wine Spectator, “Plump and creamy in feel, but also very pure, with fine details to the mix of melon, pear, apricot and anise notes. A light toasted macadamia nut accent fills in the background. Ends with refined hedonism.”
GEORGES VERNAY
CONDRIEU "COTEAU DE VERNON" 2014
TASTING NOTE
The best Condrieu available from the number one producer. Great length, concentration and balance.
Robert Parker, “Always the last to be released and possessing sensational purity and freshness, yet with tons of richness and depth, the 2014 Condrieu Coteaux de Vernon sports a medium-gold color as well as killer notes of orange marmalade, flower oil, toasted bread, brioche and crushed rock-like minerality. It’s a big wine, yet stays gorgeously pure, fresh and focused, and is a quintessential Condrieu that every reader needs to drink more than once in their life!” Jancis Robinson, “Sweet fruit, superb definition and clarity. Tremendous length – that apricot fruit stays on the palate relentlessly. Still has ageing potential. What a wine!”