Condrieu 2024 André Perret | Rhône

Description: Condrieu 2024 | André Perret

The 2024 Condrieu from the André Perret estate is part of one of the finest appellations in the Rhône Valley. The estate is currently run by André Perret and his daughter Marie, who joined him in 2019. This cuvée blends grapes from several plots, all cultivated by hand, with the meticulous attention to detail that has earned this family of wine enthusiasts their reputation.

Terroirs and Grape Varieties

The vines grow on granitic, well-drained, and nutrient-poor soils, facing due south and southeast. With an average age of 20 years, they produce moderate yields, which the estate manages through green harvesting between July and August. The 100%Viognier —the iconic grape variety of the Northern Rhône—achieves on this granite substrate a tension and freshness rarely found in other terroirs.

Viticulture and Winemaking

Cultivation is entirely manual, with no systematic treatments: interventions are based on observation and decided on a case-by-case basis. The hand-harvested grapes undergo a two-stage winemaking process: 50% in stainless steel tanks, to preserve freshness and fruit, and 50% in used barrels, to develop texture and body. Aging lasts 12 months, punctuated by regular stirring on the lees and racking. Temperature and humidity are carefully controlled at every stage.

Condrieu 2024 | André Perret: The Sommelier’s Opinion

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin

Condrieu is often associated with the excessive floral notes and opulence of Viognier. André Perret offers a more restrained, more straightforward, and fundamentally balanced version. Here, the granite soil shapes a wine whose aromatic exuberance is largely tempered by a combination of stainless steel and oak aging. This 2024 vintage will reach its peak between 2027 and 2034, but it is already delicious today, served around 12°C. Decanting for 20 minutes may be enough to open it up if uncorked young.

The Nose

The nose immediately reveals the typical profile of Viognier: white peach and juicy apricot, intertwined with a floral touch and hints of violet. One is struck by the freshness that fills the glass and by the subtle granite-like minerality that emerges in the background.

Palate

On the palate, the supple, fruity texture gains depth as you taste it, enveloping the palate with a richness shaped by 12 months of aging on the lees. The terroir shapes a lively acidity that maintains the balance between the generosity of ripe fruit and the tension of the granite. The lingering apricot flavors on the finish are adorned with a most appetizing mineral vibrancy. A Condrieu with great structure, elegant and precise.

Condrieu: Everything You Need to Know About This Appellation

Condrieu is an appellation in the northern Rhône, nestled south of Lyon on the steep slopes of the river’s right bank. It is one of the few terroirs in the world to produce exclusively dry white Viognier. The granitic soils and steep slopes, most often facing due south, give the wines a mineral tension that is rare for this naturally generous grape variety. The appellation is emblematic of the region, yet its small size keeps it almost under the radar: the area under vine remains limited, and yields are structurally low.

André Perret’s 2024 Condrieu is representative of this appellation in its most precise and refined form. Meticulous winemaking and measured aging result in a wine that is both typical and distinctive, deeply rooted in its terroir. It embodies the elegant and taut expression of Condrieu Viognier, far removed from the appellation’s clichés.