“I liked the wines that came from the slopes, I found those from the plains very average”. These words of Georges Vernay sum up his contribution to Condrieu. Thanks to Georges, the abandoned, steep slopes here were given new life in the 1960s. In fact, this determined man had the genius intuition to cultivate vines on the “chaillées”, or terraces, aptly known as the “chaillées de l'enfer” (terraces from hell)! The history of this property goes back to 1938 when Francis Vernay planted his first hectare of Viognier. Georges Vernay joined in 1943 and expanded the estate by buying some parcels. He opened a tasting room that earned him a loyal English customer base. From 1943 to 2010, the estate went from 1 to 24 hectares, 17 of which are located on steep slopes. The vines are spread across three appellations: Condrieu (10ha), Côte-Rôtie (6ha) and Saint-Joseph (2ha), with 2 IGP wine made from Syrah and Viognier (6ha). Since his death in 2017, it has been his daughter Christine who has kept the family tradition alive alongside her daughter, Emma.

Why give the cuvée this name? When walking through this parcel, the elders always exclaimed, ‘We’re in Hell!' Cultivating vines on these rugged steep granite slopes is indeed complicated and dangerous. Naturally, mechanisation is not possible. The vines are cultivated with the utmost care and treated with organic substances. The Viognier grapes are harvested by hand at peak ripeness. This is followed by a gentle pressing of whole harvest grapes, and fermentation of the clarified juices after static settling in 225-litre barrels for 4 to 5 weeks. The wine is then matured in barrels (25% new wood) on fine lees for 12 to 18 months, with stirring of the lees. This opulent, full-bodied wine exudes amazing aromatic power. While it already shows great potential when young, it is even more impressive after ten or so years in the cellar. It’s well worth being patient.