Chapter Three: Viognier's Heartland in Condrieu
Maison Castel chose to write the third chapter of its Séries Limitées collection in Viognier's heartland - the Condrieu vineyards of the northern Rhône valley. Born beyond the mist, this golden-hued wine is the first white in the collection. After its first two red chapters, it was natural for Maison Castel to launch into the pursuit of white gold: Condrieu.
Legendary Terroir of Condrieu
A unique and exceptional terroir, Condrieu, with its small size at only 180ha, is poised at the confluence of the Rhône, the Loire, and the Ardèche, where Viognier has thrived since the Gallo-Roman era. This legendary terroir, overlooking the river above the mist, has to be respected. Only by hoisting oneself up the abrupt granite hillsides and interlacing walled terraces, known locally as chayés, can one witness its majesty in all its glory. The wines made here are powerful and delicate in nature, with an incomparable mineral freshness that forms as clear a reference point for wine lovers as the ringing of a bell.
Collaboration and Craftsmanship
For this chapter, two winegrowers, Yves Cuilleron and Lionel Faury, joined forces with Maison Castel to each compose their own interpretation of Condrieu. The Maison Castel winemaking team carefully selected four vineyard plots, each more than 30 years old, situated on terroirs in the commune of Chavanay, in soils composed of muscovite granite as well as terroirs further north with a subsoil composed of granite with Biotite (Le Tinal and Verlieu). These complement each other with their different exposures.
Vineyard Selection and Characteristics
The first three vineyards - Peyrolland, La Ribaudy, and Boissey - ripen earlier, facing the Rhône and benefiting from pure southern exposure, which brings power and ripe fruit aromas to the wine. The fourth, La Cote, ripens later, and enjoys east-southeast exposure, contributing freshness and minerality. The plots situated on steep slopes require balance and courage to come here on a daily basis to tend to the stake-trained vines by hand. Painstaking, laborious work, which makes each cuvée a feat marked by great pride.
