1996 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon

Community Tasting Notes (2)

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  2/2/2020 - kuumies wrote:

  Seemed off early on but did not really turn any worse with time and in the end was deemed just old with some old way mustiness. The fruit on the nose has lost much of its sweetness and has a distinct tomato leaf edge. The nose is bright does not show much classic Viognier notes. On the palate the wines has dropped most of its fat and the fruit has dried quite a bit. Drinkable, but definitely past its peak. Surprisingly enough the closest thing to the tomato leaf note here I can think of is 1997 vintage blue Chimay enjoyed in 2018.

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  2/1/2020 - forceberry wrote:

  13,5% alcohol.
  
  Medium-deep yellow-green color. Stuffy, earthy and rather dull nose with aromas of damp leaves, some damp mulch, a little bit of wizened citrus fruits and a hint of decomposing vegetal matter. With air the nose cleans up a little bit, but still never becomes particularly attractive. The wine is concentrated, oily and rather dull on the palate with medium body and developed, earthy flavors of pungent salinity, some damp leaves, a little bit of moist earth and a hint of developed stone fruits. Surprisingly high acidity for a Viognier. The finish is somewhat stuffy, but also surprisingly bright with quite high acidity and precise yet somewhat earthy flavors of steely minerality, some ripe grapey fruit, a little bit of white peach, light earthy notes of damp soil, a hint of wizened pear and a touch of old furniture.
  
  At first we wondered if this wine was corked, but as the wine never really took turn to worse, but instead benefited a little bit of air, we decided that it was just past its prime. This was not just bottle stink, the fruit has apparently left the wine altogether and left behind just dull, earthy flavors. The overall impression was quite poised, balanced and well-structured, so only if the wine would've shown any fruit, I'm certain this would've been a very impressive old Condrieu altogether. However, in its current condition it was more on the barely drinkable - or even undrinkable - side.

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