Condrieu AOC
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| CONDRIEU (wine region) | |
| Official name | Condrieu AOC |
|---|---|
| Appellation type | AOC |
| Year established | 1940 |
| Country | France |
| Part of | Rhône Valley |
| Climate region | mild continental |
| Soil conditions | gneiss |
| Total area (ha) | 124 |
| Yield (hl/ha) | 37 |
| No. of vineyards | 101 |
| Grapes produced | Viognier |
| No. of wineries | 76 |
| Wine produced | sec, demi-sec, doux |
| Key | ha: hectares, hl: hectolitres, hl/ha: hectolitres per hectare |
Condrieu (From the French coin de ruisseau meaning "corner of the brook")[1] is a French wine-growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) located in the northern Rhône wine, near Vienne and to the south of the Côte-Rôtie AOC. The vineyards are situated in the seven communes of Limony, Chavanay, Malleval, Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, Saint-Pierre-de Boeuf, Vérin, and Condrieu in the French departments of Ardèche, Rhône and Loire on the steep slopes of the foothills of the Massif Central on the right bank of the Rhône river. The four southernmost communes can also produce wine under the Saint-Joseph AOC. The wines made in this AOC are exclusively white, from the Viognier grape, which may have originated in the region. Within Condrieu is the enclave AOC of Château-Grillet, producing wines that are also 100% Viognier.
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[edit] History
Viticulture in the area around Condrieu has existed since at least Roman times with the possibility that the area was first cultivated by the native Allobroges tribe.[2] In the 18th century, Condrieu enjoyed a period of popularity as it gained access to the lucrative Parisian market. The wine was transported over land up north to the city of Saint-Étienne where the Loire River would carry the wine northward to the Canal de Briare and then to Paris. During periods of peace between France and Great Britain, Condrieu would finds it way to the London market.[3] The 20th century saw a period of vineyard expansion for the region with the AOC expanding from less than 30 acres (12 hectare) in the 1960s to over 240 acres (98 ha) by the end of the century.[4]
[edit] Climate and geography
The climate of Condrieu, like much of the Northern Rhone, is continental and characterized by cold, wet winters and hot summer. Most ideally situated vineyards are planted on granite soils that face a southern orientation, aiding the growth process during the cool late spring and early fall months. The well drained granite soil retains heat during the day and reflects it back to the vines at night.[1] In some areas the soil includes a fine layer of decomposed chalk, flint and mica known locally in the region as arzelle.[5] Some of the best vineyard sites include some natural sheltering from the fierce northern winds that blow through the region and could wreck havoc during flowering. The steep incline of many vineyards introduces the potential hazard of soil erosion.[6]
The Condrieu AOC covers more than 500 acres (202 hectares)[7] of hilly terrain located along a 12 miles (19 km) stretch of the Rhône river.[8] The AOC region begins at the town of Condrieu itself and extends south along the west bank of the river to the town of Limony. Within the AOC is 8.5 acres (3.4 hectares) of Château-Grillet that forms it own micro appellation.[7]
[edit] Wine
The only permitted AOC wine is the region is a white wine made 100% from Viognier. The particular clone of Viognier in Condrieu produces low yields of small berries and are less productive than the Viognier clones planted in other regions of France-such as the vin de pays wine of the Ardèche department. The low production contributes to the rarity and expense of Condrieu wine with the AOC produces around 30,000 cases annually.[8] In the early to mid 20th century, there was a trend among Condrieu producers to make wines that were off dry to sweet but by the end of the 20th century the trend was to produce mostly dry wines though in particularly favorable vintages, some producers will make a late harvest wine.[5]
Condrieu wine is often characterized by it delicate aromatics of peaches, dried fruit and white flowers. Some examples can also have notes of anise, star fruit and melons. The wine is often full bodied and rich in a style that is texturally similarly to Chardonnay.[7] The wine is normally made dry but the fruitiness and perfume of the bouquet can give the impression that the wine is sweet.[5] The Viognier grape is naturally low in acidity which presents a challenge to vine growers and wine makers to keep the wine from becoming flabby and bleak. The delicate flavors of the wine can be overwhelmed with too much oak during the winemaking process.[1] Malolactic fermentation is not universally practiced in Condrieu with some winemakers using the technique and some not.[6]
[edit] Ageability
The ability to age is one of much discussion and differing opinion in the wine world with some experts like Master of Wine Mary Ewing-Mulligan believing that Condrieu is best consume within three years of harvest.[8] The Oxford Companion to Wine describes Condrieu as one the few luxury wines that is meant to be consumed young-typically within two to four years.[6] Wine writer Tom Stevenson, recommends drinking Condrieu between 4 to 8 years after harvest and notes that freshness and purity of Condrieu can be lost as the wine ages.[5] James Molesworth, of Wine Spectator Magazine, notes that some vintage of Condrieu-such as 2004- will produce more intense, concentrated wines that have the ability to age.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c K. MacNeil The Wine Bible pg 235-240 Workman Publishing 2001 ISBN 1563054345
- ^ H. Johnson Vintage: The Story of Wine pg 89 Simon and Schuster 1989 ISBN 0671687026
- ^ H. Johnson Vintage: The Story of Wine pg 283 & 299 Simon and Schuster 1989 ISBN 0671687026
- ^ H. Johnson & J. Robinson The World Atlas of Wine pg 132 Mitchell Beazley Publishing 2005 ISBN 1840003324
- ^ a b c d T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pg 215-216 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0756613248
- ^ a b c J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 192 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0198609906
- ^ a b c d J. Molesworth "Vintage Analysis: Northern Rhône 2003 and 2004" Wine Spectator December 06, 2005
- ^ a b c E. McCarthy & M. Ewing-Mulligan "French Wine for Dummies" pg 132-133 Wiley Publishing 2001 ISBN 0764553542
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