Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu 'Les Chaillees de l'Enfer' 2022

Grapes

100% Viognier

Tasting notes

This Condrieu displays all the hallmarks of a very fine Viognier. Complex stone fruit characters of fresh peach and apricot combine with nuances of exotic fruit, mineral notes and a delicate hint of spice. Exquisite and very elegant.

Story

"Les Chaillées de l’Enfer" translates to “Terraces of hell” owing to the stone walls that form terraces for the plot and because this area can capture intense heat. It’s made up of vines that are 50+ years old and some date back to 1957. ‘Les Chaillées de l’Enfer’ also offers a pure expression of Condrieu but with less intensity and minerality than the ‘Coteau de Vernon’.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 95 Points

"Fascinating nose of dried pears and summer meadows. Rich and full-bodied with a lot of finesse and a silky texture. The finish is long, and simultaneously supple and crystalline. From more than 60-year-old vines in the middle terraces of the hillside. Vinifed in large oak."

More About The Winery

Perched on the steep granite terraces of Condrieu, Domaine Georges Vernay is the undisputed reference for Viognier and one of the greatest domaines in all of France. Founded in 1937 and now led by Christine Vernay, the estate has transformed from saving Viognier from extinction to producing some of the most sought-after white wines in the world.

The domaine’s three Condrieu cuvées — Les Terrasses de l’Empire, Les Chaillées de l’Enfer, and Côteau de Vernon — are benchmark expressions of Viognier: precise, complex, and age-worthy, far removed from the plump examples found elsewhere. Tiny yields, old vines, and minimal intervention define the style, producing wines of extraordinary finesse, depth, and minerality.

Beyond Condrieu, Domaine Vernay also crafts outstanding Côte-Rôtie reds — Blonde du Seigneur and Maison Rouge — regarded among the finest of the appellation. More accessible bottlings, such as the Viognier Le Pied de Samson and Syrah Georges Vernay, showcase the domaine’s craftsmanship at superb value.

Internationally acclaimed, Christine Vernay was named “Wine Person of the Year 2012” by Bettane & Desseauve, elevating the domaine to the prestigious 5-star rating alongside legends like DRC, Château Latour, and Château d’Yquem. Remarkably, Vernay remains one of the few family-owned domaines in this elite circle.