Condrieu, La Bonnette, 2018
A very intense nose of dried violets and spice. The palate oozes creamy yellow plum fruit sprinkled with notes of mineral. Ripe, curvaceous but pristine and well-defined. An unoaked Condrieu with blocking of malolactic fermentation to preserve as much freshness in the Viognier as possible.
critic reviews
Glistening straw color. Potent, mineral-accented aromas of pear nectar and orange pith are complicated by a floral accent that gains strength with aeration. Seamless and expansive in the mouth, displaying impressive focus to its lively citrus and orchard fruit flavors. Delivers a suave blend of richness and finesse finishing with strong mineral cut and emphatic, floral-driven persistence.
Having just come out of barrel into tank, the 2018 Condrieu la Bonnette was in a cloudy, leesy state that made it impossible for me to properly evaluate. It showed ample weight, a sense of balance and plenty of length, so I have no doubt it will ultimately emerge as a solid effort; I just happened to encounter it at an inopportune time.