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56 Condrieu AC 2007
Christophe PichonGrape:100% Viognier (14.3% alc.)
This wine comes from 10-40 year old vines in the three lieu-dits of Mève, Roches Coulantes and Colombier. A beautifully handled elevage helps the wine retain freshness and the decomposed granite, mica rich soil gives this apricot and peach rich viognier an added complexity. For drinking now to 2012+.
* Half bottles are available
Technical Information Winemaker: Christophe Pichon Location: Vineyards between Condrieu and Chavanay Size of
domaine:4 hectares Grape: 100% Viognier. 15-40 yr old vines from Mève, Roche Coulantes & Colombier. On R110 rootstock and Rupestris du Lot. Seléction massale only. Density of 7,000 per hectare for 25% of vineyards and 10,000 for 75%. Pruned single guyot. Terroir: A mix of soils, decomposed mica-rich granite and argile, on steep (45% gradient) terraced hillsides on the west bank of the Rhône at 200-350 metres. 75% south facing and 25% face east. A 50cm depth of soil above rock. Viticulture: De-buds but only green harvest if really necessary. Weeds and hoes the soil. Treats oidium with sulphur. Organic fertiliser only. Does not plough. 25% of area is grassed between rows. Manual work apart from 5 ‘bio’ treatments via helicopter. Manual harvest and ‘trie a la vigne’ if necessary. 35 hl/ha yield Vinification: A 6 hour prefermentive maceration at 13C. Natural yeasts. Fermentation at 18-21° for 10-60 days. Ferment 50% in fûts (new to 5-yr-old) and 50% in stainless steel cuve for both alcoholic & malo ferments. Pneumatique press. Elevage not rotated. Batonnage until end of malolactic fermentations. Ten month élevage. Bottled (unfined) in August with a light kieselghur filtration or bentonite. Always prefers to ferment dry. Total production 20,000 bottles. Press: