Lot presentation

Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer Georges Vernay 2009

The wine

Where does the name come from? In the olden days, growers working the land would exclaim, "This is Hell! ". The steep granitic hillsides of this rugged vineyard make cultivation of the vineyard a complicated, dangerous job. Naturally, mechanised approaches are impossible. According to this careful cultivation philosophy, the vines are treated with organic products. The bunches of Viognier are manually harvested at full maturity. Next, the stemmed grapes are pressed directly, and the clear juices are fermented after 4-5 weeks' static settling in 225-litre barrique barrels. The wine is then matured in barrique barrels (25% new wood) on fine lees for 12-18 months, with stirring. This opulent, full-bodied wine offers incredible aromatic power. Even in its youth it offers great potential, yet it is even better after a decade of cellaring. This is a wine that demands patience.

About the Producer Georges Vernay

“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 domaine goes back to 1938 when Francis Vernay planted his first hectare of Viognier. Georges Vernay joined in 1943 and expanded the domain by buying some parcels. He opened a tasting room that earned him a loyal English customer base. From 1943 to 2010, the domaine went from 1 to 22 hectares. Since his death in 2017, it has been his daughter Christine who has kept the family tradition alive. The vines are worked by hand and all chemical products are banned.

Detailed characteristics