Essence of Viognier, elegant, delicately perfumed, fresh and mineral with layers of flavour and complexity. Still young, this is still full of primary flavours, a true taste of Viognier and after 10 years will develop wonderfully honeyed secondary flavours.

The Viognier grapes for Condrieu come from six parcels on superb terroirs in Chavanay, Saint Michel sur Rhône et Vérin. The Chaillées are the dry stone walls that support the terraced vines on the steep granite slopes. Grapes are destemmed with 9 hours of skin contact before a gentle pressing and fermentation in oak barriques and demi-muids. Careful battonage and aging for 11 months in 75% 1 and 2 year old fûts and 25% in new French oak demi-muids without racking or adding sulphur.

Stéphane Montez's family have been growing grapes in the Northern Rhône for ten generations and today have 38 hectares of prime vineyards in Condrieu, Côte Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Cornas, and Saint-Péray. After formally studying winemaking in France, Stéphane travelled to South Africa, Australia, California and England to experience winemaking outside France before returning to the family estate. He took over the business in 1997 from his father, Antoine, and has driven the quality of the wines and the Domaine’s reputation to ever greater heights. His winemaking style focuses on power, precision and structure achieved through temperature-controlled fermentations, careful extraction and the use of demi-muids across the range.

The terraces of the Domaine are located on the Eastern periphery of Mont Pilat (1,434m above sea level), which protects them from bad weather, bringing a pure and light breeze that sanitizes the berries. Fresh ventilation throughout the vineyards preserves the aromatic purity of the wines and limits disease on the vines. Harvest is done manually in small boxes, with the grapes picked at optimum maturity and transported quickly and delicately to the winery.

Match with grilled prawns, turbot with hollandaise, or a top notch macaroni cheese. It's just great wine, enjoy it!