Château-Grillet AOC
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Château-Grillet is a wine-growing AOC and winery in the northern Rhône wine region of France, near Vienne.
Just south of Vienne in the northern part of the Rhône valley is one the most distinctive wine regions of France: Condrieu AOC. The production of white wine in the Rhône region is relatively small. In the Condrieu AOC only white wine is produced and solely on the Viognier grape. This unique grape isn't genenrally appreciated for producing white wine. Recently, wine producers around the globe have started testing it because of the outstanding wines it produces in southern France.
The heart of the Condrieu AOC is the Château-Grillet AOC as an enclave with its own AOC. With only 3.8 hectares the estate is the smallest AOC owned by a single estate, a situation known as a monopole. The only monopole estate is the Romanée-Conti. The Neyret-Gachet family acquired the estate in 1830 and holds to this date (2007). Today, Isabelle Baratin manages the production and sale of their single wine: Vin Blanc de Château-Grillet. Only some 10,000 bottles are produces each year. The estate also produces two of the most exciting brandies of France: Fine du Château-Grillet and Marc du Château-Grillet. The former is distilled from the Château-Grillet wine while the latter is a pomace brandy.
The vineyards stretch over two communes: Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône and Vérin.
The wine fields are situated in terrasses on steep granite cliffs surrounding the estate. The slopes almost form an amphitheater with south-southeastern sun exposure. The soil is lighter more fragmented that in the Condrieu AOC. This terroir purveys a wine while in its youth may appear a bit rough and less fruity that a Condrieu but also a wine that opens as it matures and achieves aromas that only very few Condrieu wines are able to get.
Only few white grapes like the Viognier grape are made for the dry and hot climate of the Rhône valley. The grape keeps the acidity and perfumed aroma in spite of the strong heat. The yield is naturally low for the grape variety. The high age (40 years on average) of the vines at Château-Grillet results in an even lower yield. The old vines produce more concentrated grapes with a more appropriate level of acids.
To add another dimension to the wine, the Château-Grillet cellars it for at least 24 month on new and old oak barriques. The new barriques adds the well known oak and vanilla flavour to the wine while the old barriques makes the wine more comples.
The Château-Grillet is easily recognised on its slim brun bottle used by no other french winery.
