Domaine Georges Vernay - Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer 2023

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Emma Amsellem joined her mother, Christine Vernay, to showcase the rugged slopes of Condrieu and Côte Rôtie—lands bathed in sunshine when frost doesn’t interfere, as it did in 2021, a vintage Emma isn’t likely to forget, having just returned to the estate. Despite the weather’s vagaries, the year was highly successful for the whites, with well-defined mineral notes. A vintage that showcases all the splendor of the Vernon hillside.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The Condrieu trio serves as a model, offering something for every taste: Les Chaillées de l'Enfer, with its sunny and complex profile, blending aromas of white and yellow fruits, flowers, and citrus.

About the estate:

Emma Amsellem is settling into her role at the helm of the estate, smoothly taking over from her mother, Christine Vernay, whose work since 1996 has been widely praised. While the estate is deeply intertwined with the history of the Condrieu appellation (and remains its finest example), it also offers a remarkable selection of reds, whose aging has become increasingly refined in recent years. Tasting a decade-old Condrieu here reveals the potential of this terroir, which is all too often overshadowed by the varietal notes of Viognier. The energy and potential found in the estate’s wines set the standard.

Wine Spectator

About the wine:

It boasts a lush style, displaying expert balance and vibrancy. It features concentrated layers of soft, fleshy apricot, peach, and mango, enlivened by a lively acidity. White tea tannins frame the rich, tangy finish, which stretches on endlessly. Excellent. Enjoy now through 2030.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

The only Vernay wine in the range bottled in an Alsatian-style bottle, which makes me wonder if that says anything about the wine’s style? It might just be a placebo effect caused by the shape of the bottle, but there seems to be a slight hint of petrol alongside the more characteristic aromas of juicy apricot and gardenia. This wine is very intense and concentrated, but also fresher than many Condrieus.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2023 Condrieu Les Chaillées de L'Enfer opens with pronounced aromas of honeysuckle, chamomile, ripe apricot, and peach. Subtle pastry notes add to its aromatic complexity. Medium-bodied, fresh, and concentrated, this exceptional 2023 wine finishes with a long, fragrant aftertaste.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A concentrated, well-structured Condrieu with good texture and tension. The nose offers notes of white peaches, white flowers, and warm herbs, followed by a medium-bodied palate with plenty of volume and a linear mouthfeel. Concentrated and lively, with a refreshing hint of bitter almond on a lemony finish. Enjoy now or cellare.

Jeb Dunnuck