2020 Condrieu ‘Coteau de Vernon’, Georges Vernay Your Store

2020 Condrieu ‘Coteau de Vernon’, Georges Vernay

Condrieu, Rhone Valley, France

“The Golden Slope”

Glinting pale gold in the glass, this legendary Condrieu is as captivating as its birthplace, a steep, sunlit vineyard carved into the heart of the Rhône. The nose is voluptuous yet refined, with layers of peach, apricot, and candied citrus unfurling into whispers of vanilla, honeysuckle, and sweet spice. On the palate, it’s both silken and radiant with rich stone fruit and floral tones balanced by a vibrant, crystalline acidity. The oak is seamlessly woven, adding depth without weight, and the finish lingers long and precise, echoing with minerality and ripe fruit. It’s sensual, sculpted, and utterly unforgettable.

For when: the table’s candlelit and you’re in no hurry to reach dessert.
Pairs with: lobster, seared scallops, or roast chicken with morels.
If this wine were a fabric, it’d be silk with sunlight stitched through it.

Domaine Georges Vernay, the undisputed beacon of Condrieu, has shaped the modern history of the appellation. Founded in 1937, the estate was transformed under Georges Vernay, who almost single-handedly saved Viognier from extinction in the 20th century. Today, his daughter Christine Vernay continues that legacy with a philosophy rooted in precision, patience, and respect for the land.

The ‘Coteau de Vernon’ is the domaine’s flagship wine, sourced from a single, steeply terraced vineyard of granite and mica schist, where the old Viognier vines, some over 60 years of age, capture both power and purity. Fermented and aged in oak barrels with meticulous care, it is a Condrieu of extraordinary balance and longevity. The 2020 vintage, opulent yet refined, shows this vineyard at its transcendent best: a wine of grace, golden fruit, and enduring beauty.

Whats in the bottle
100% Viognier

£149.00
Taxes included.

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  • Producer Information
  • Winemaking
  • Tech Stuff

Few names in the Rhône Valley command such quiet reverence as Georges Vernay. To speak of Condrieu is, in many ways, to speak of Vernay himself, the man who rescued Viognier from the brink of extinction in the mid-20th century and transformed a forgotten hillside into one of France’s most coveted white wine appellations. Today, under the stewardship of his daughter Christine and her husband Paul Amsellem, the domaine continues that legacy with a deft blend of tradition, innovation, and sheer artistry.

Perched on the steep granite terraces above the village of Condrieu, the estate’s vineyards demand both physical stamina and unwavering devotion. Every vine is tended by hand, every terrace shaped by centuries of labour and love. The wines reflect this intimate craftsmanship: expressive yet restrained, textured yet ethereal, their Viogniers are benchmarks for purity and aromatic complexity, while the small parcels of Côte-Rôtie show haunting finesse and structure.

Fermentations take place in oak with a careful balance of new and seasoned barrels, allowing each cuvée to find its voice rather than wear the imprint of wood. The house style is unmistakable, lifted aromatics, mineral depth, and a silky, seamless finish that lingers like a memory. Domaine Georges Vernay remains not just a cornerstone of Condrieu, but a living testament to what happens when passion, place, and patience align perfectly on a mountainside above the Rhône.

The grapes were manually harvested at full maturity 13 to 14 degrees, meticulously sorted and then immediately pressed. A static temperature controlled must settling took place and the clear juice was fermented in 225 litre barrels, lasting four to five weeks. The wine was matured in oak barrels, of which 25% were new, on its fine lees for 12 months with regular "bâtonnage" (stirring of the lees) which added texture and complexity to the resulting wine.

Producer
Domaine Georges Vernay

Country
France

Grape
Viognier

Size
750ml

Types
White Wine

Vintage
2020

Region
Rhône Valley

Sub-Region
Condrieu

2020 Condrieu ‘Coteau de Vernon’, Georges Vernay

£149.00

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