Juicy, showing lots of star fruit, persimmon and papaya flavors that stay creamy and pure on the long finish, with great minerality underneath. Drink now through 2009. 1,900 cases made.??–JM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Condrieu Select to Add

The 2004 Condrieu possesses abundant mineral-like characteristics along with hints of litchi nuts, orange rinds, and honeysuckle. It is a fine Condrieu from a top-flight vintage. It is best consumed during its first 3-4 years of life.

The 2003 Condrieu (made from purchased grapes) possesses notes of earth, apricot liqueur, and Alsatian-like gout du petrol. As I have said so many times over the last 15 years, the top Chapoutier wines are meant for very long term drinking, and are not designed for immediate gratification. Everything Chapoutier is doing, from his bio-dynamically farmed vineyard to tiny yields, extended fermentations, indigenous yeasts, and no fining or filtration, is done to produce the essence of a vineyard and a vintage. His track record since 1989 and 1990 admirably proves that these are indeed remarkable wines made by a young genius who refuses to compromise. Michel Chapoutier has been misunderstood by some of his peers, and there is a lot of jealousy when someone this young is so incredibly talented, but it is an irrefutable fact that these are wines of singular greatness as well as longevity.Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900