“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.

A perfect example of a Côte-Rôtie Syrah, this cuvée owes its name to the typical character of the Côte Blonde in which it is produced. A blend of Syrah and Viognier, it has been designed with environmentally-friendly methods in mind. In the winery, the destemmed grapes are vinified in thermoregulated stainless steel vats before undergoing a long vatting (between 2 and 3 weeks). The wine is then matured for 18 months in barrique barrels (25% new wood). The 5% proportion of Viognier added to the Syrah lends the wine sweetness, freshness and floral notes. Overall, the very dark appearance of this Côte-Rôtie reveals mineral, smoky, fruity aromas on the nose, enhanced with complex touches of black olive, peppers and small flowers. In the mouth, the tannins are discernible but mellow with time, offering a highly seductive length in the mouth. Clearly a wine for keeping.