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| Condrieu Domaine du Monteillet 2009
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| If you haven't tried Condrieu you haven't lived! Condrieu is in the northern-most part of the Rhone Valley and all the best vineyards are planted along the steep hillsides overlooking the swift-moving dangerously deep and swirling River Rhone, carved into terraces of primarily granite. Condrieu, quite simply produces some of the world's most exotic white wines on earth, and also some of the rarest as it is one of the smallest fine wine appellations, being just 250 acres! Little known outside a circle of enthuiasts for most of the last century, Condrieu was mainly drunk by such famous Gourmands as the Aga Khan, Jean Cocteau and Winston Churchill who made frequent pilgrimages to the French chef Fernand Point who reigned over the restaurant La Pyramide in Vienne, a few miles from both Cote Rotie and Condrieu. Pointe, whose influence on some of the most talented French chefs of the twentieth century, was a passionate advocate of Condrieu which he like to serve next to a Montrachet from Burgundy.
To say that Condrieu wines have had and enthusiasic following is probably a bit of an understatement, the dozen or so top wines of the region tend to sell out quickly, and as usual are bought again and again by a small clicque of insiders. As it is unusual for new producers to get a toe into the area let alone buy land from an the likes of Guigal, Cuilleron and Chateau Grillet, those wines are quite expensive but still a bargain compared to Montrachet Grand Cru.
Stephane Montez has taken over from his dad Antoine, a 5 star producer, Stephane has a mere 3.7 acres to play with, all situated on the hillside vineyards of Boissey and Chanson. Domaine du Monteillet is listed along with 10 other wines as the top in the region. His sumptuous Condrieu is one of the finest, if it can be found!! The exotic fruit is rich and creamy, underpinned by a nervous tension making for thrilling excitement. Stephane Montez is creating a real buzz amongst the YLS (Young London Sommelliers (a small elite clicque who will gladly snap up all wines such as this if we don't get in quick enough). |
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