Friday Night Double Blind Semi-Mondo $80+ (Bin 75): Yellow core with straw rim; kumquat, tangerine oil, floral though nose is more subtle than expected, honey, lily, beeswax, almost lanolin, melon; medium richness though watery at first, some honey, bitter melon, and tangerine on the well defined finish; nose and palate got better with air and as they warmed; everyone says drink Condrieu within 2 years of release but this was fine though maybe not as exuberant as it was in its youth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very pale brass. Initially very quiet on the nose and palate. A bit of toasty apple nose. Nice bitter edge. Lacks enough acidity for balance right out of the bottle. After 30 minutes some slight improvement in complexity but still too soft. Flavors good, Ei liked, but I think this lacks acidity. Day 2 update; There is some acidity now on the finish but still too soft in the mid-palate. This seems to be consistently the weak spot (when there is one) for the Rhone whites. Flavor profiles are great, structure is sometimes lacking, as in this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine may be peaking, or already peaked, but it's still drinking great and will for another few years. Paired well with halibut with caper and Dijon mustard sauce.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium straw-lemon, slow legs and viscous @14% abv. Medium developed nose of peach, honey, eucalyptus, provencal herbs, oak and a bit of smokiness. Dry, medium-medium(+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium(+) body, glycerine-like texture. Medium(+) flavours of peach, thyme, herbs, white pepper, nougat. Bold flavour palate, great balance between acidity-flavours and the firm structure. Great length, elegant and never in your face, well-defined palate cleansing finish, very satisfying. Matched with brined/grilled pork, black bean salsa and grilled vegetables. Great foodwine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich straw with some green hew, floral honey dominated inviting nose. Somewhat astringent mouth feel, open up in spices and tropical fruits. Cannot escape the impression that the middle part is a bit thin and hollow. More cellaring might help. Value/money = 6
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've followed this wine over the last 2+ years since its release. At this time (May 2010) it is, I think, at its peak. On release this was a very tight, mineral and shy wine. Now it has become very expressive and on-song. Its apricot/oragne blossom is striking and the richly textured palate is long, precise; there is a bit of heat and some phrenolic bitterness on the finish but at an acceptable and complexing level. It has not lost the clarity of its minerals. A very pleasing wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We put this up against the Cayuse viognier and it beat it like a red-headed stepchild. Cream, bit of custard, glyceral mouthfeel. Notes of lemon, white flowers, and honey. Not quite enough acid for me to be totally blown away. Easily outclassed the Cayuse. 92pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine had a nose of tropical fruits and apricots. The palate had mostly mango, banana and apricot flavors. This wine was very flabby though. I did enjoy it more than the Cayuse Viognier that we tasted this next to, but that says more about the Cayuse than the Chapoutier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OMG this was deelish. Brought to the restaurant and tasted barely coolish. The flavors were so many and so varied that I'm at a loss for description. As the wine got colder in the ice bucket, some of the breadth of flavor was lost but replaced by crispness and focus. The best viognier I've ever had. 94-95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pale golden with greenish. Deep fruity nose, apricots and peach dominates, but minerality is there too. Intense fruity taste with the classic heavy Condrieu style, refreshing bitternes and acidity on the finish. For me this is a textbook Condrieu :-) Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Kevin's birthday (Windmill Portuguese Restaurant, High Street, Walthamstow, London): This was seemed pretty closed on opening, with a rather muted nose and palate. Better after and hour and still getting better at 3 hours. Some nice tropical fruit notes on the nose with a lovely light and delicate palate. Shame though that this bottle never really seemed to get going and give out the stone, fruit and flower qualities that Condrieu can at its best. I had high hopes for this but was ultimately disappointed. £25 from Majestic and not great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/1/2019 - JHH51 wrote: flawed
Past it’s time. Very flat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2013 - Rezy13 wrote:
Friday Night Double Blind Semi-Mondo $80+ (Bin 75): Yellow core with straw rim; kumquat, tangerine oil, floral though nose is more subtle than expected, honey, lily, beeswax, almost lanolin, melon; medium richness though watery at first, some honey, bitter melon, and tangerine on the well defined finish; nose and palate got better with air and as they warmed; everyone says drink Condrieu within 2 years of release but this was fine though maybe not as exuberant as it was in its youth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2013 - Atwellian wrote: 86 Points
Very pale brass. Initially very quiet on the nose and palate. A bit of toasty apple nose. Nice bitter edge. Lacks enough acidity for balance right out of the bottle. After 30 minutes some slight improvement in complexity but still too soft. Flavors good, Ei liked, but I think this lacks acidity. Day 2 update; There is some acidity now on the finish but still too soft in the mid-palate. This seems to be consistently the weak spot (when there is one) for the Rhone whites. Flavor profiles are great, structure is sometimes lacking, as in this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2013 - BillyRayValentine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same as prior note. Oak, spice and toasted nut flavors dominate fruit. Medium finish. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2013 - BillyRayValentine Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine may be peaking, or already peaked, but it's still drinking great and will for another few years. Paired well with halibut with caper and Dijon mustard sauce.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2012 - Barolo Raymond wrote: 90 Points
Medium straw-lemon, slow legs and viscous @14% abv. Medium developed nose of peach, honey, eucalyptus, provencal herbs, oak and a bit of smokiness. Dry, medium-medium(+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium(+) body, glycerine-like texture. Medium(+) flavours of peach, thyme, herbs, white pepper, nougat. Bold flavour palate, great balance between acidity-flavours and the firm structure. Great length, elegant and never in your face, well-defined palate cleansing finish, very satisfying. Matched with brined/grilled pork, black bean salsa and grilled vegetables. Great foodwine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2010 - Barolo Raymond wrote: 88 Points
Rich straw with some green hew, floral honey dominated inviting nose. Somewhat astringent mouth feel, open up in spices and tropical fruits. Cannot escape the impression that the middle part is a bit thin and hollow. More cellaring might help.
Value/money = 6
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2010 - thierrynz Likes this wine: 91 Points
I've followed this wine over the last 2+ years since its release. At this time (May 2010) it is, I think, at its peak. On release this was a very tight, mineral and shy wine. Now it has become very expressive and on-song. Its apricot/oragne blossom is striking and the richly textured palate is long, precise; there is a bit of heat and some phrenolic bitterness on the finish but at an acceptable and complexing level. It has not lost the clarity of its minerals. A very pleasing wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2010 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
Honey, seashells, and creamy mango and banana dominate this wine. Very well put together, lithe wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2010 - jahlove wrote: 90 Points
Circus peanut candy, banana boat, toasted marshmallow, papaya, honeycomb, enough acidity to keep it fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2010 - Jared wrote: 92 Points
We put this up against the Cayuse viognier and it beat it like a red-headed stepchild. Cream, bit of custard, glyceral mouthfeel. Notes of lemon, white flowers, and honey. Not quite enough acid for me to be totally blown away. Easily outclassed the Cayuse. 92pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2010 - last chance wrote: 89 Points
This wine had a nose of tropical fruits and apricots. The palate had mostly mango, banana and apricot flavors. This wine was very flabby though. I did enjoy it more than the Cayuse Viognier that we tasted this next to, but that says more about the Cayuse than the Chapoutier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2009 - millwhat wrote:
White peaches, apricots on nose and palate with hints of caramel and honey but retaining freshness. A joy to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2009 - grapist wrote: 94 Points
OMG this was deelish. Brought to the restaurant and tasted barely coolish. The flavors were so many and so varied that I'm at a loss for description. As the wine got colder in the ice bucket, some of the breadth of flavor was lost but replaced by crispness and focus. The best viognier I've ever had. 94-95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2009 - asgerG wrote: 92 Points
Pale golden with greenish. Deep fruity nose, apricots and peach dominates, but minerality is there too. Intense fruity taste with the classic heavy Condrieu style, refreshing bitternes and acidity on the finish. For me this is a textbook Condrieu :-) Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2009 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Northern Rhone Visit, May 2009; 5/14/2009-5/17/2009 (Condrieu, Ampuis, Cornas, Tain -- France): Tasted at the Domaine -- Silky, fresh and alive with good minerality and classic Viognier fruit, yet not a mind-blower.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2009 - king-bing wrote:
Kevin's birthday (Windmill Portuguese Restaurant, High Street, Walthamstow, London): This was seemed pretty closed on opening, with a rather muted nose and palate. Better after and hour and still getting better at 3 hours. Some nice tropical fruit notes on the nose with a lovely light and delicate palate. Shame though that this bottle never really seemed to get going and give out the stone, fruit and flower qualities that Condrieu can at its best. I had high hopes for this but was ultimately disappointed. £25 from Majestic and not great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment