Condrieu Les Chaillées de l’Enfer 2019 – Domaine Georges Vernay

The grapes to produce Condrieu Les Chaillées de l’Enfer Domaine Georges Vernay were manually harvested at full maturity of 13 to 14 degrees, they were then meticulously sorted and pressed. After a static temperature controlled must settling, the clear juice was fermented in 225 litre barriques, lasting approximately four to five weeks. Condrieu Les Chaillées de l’Enfer Domaine Georges Ver89.71nay was matured on its fine lees in oak barrels of which 25% were new, for 12 months, with regular bâtonnage (lees stirring) which imparted complexity and volume to the resulting wine.

The term “Chaillées” comes from regional dialect meaning ‘rocky’ and refers to the dry stone walls that form the terraces of this plot. In the past, those who came across the plot would often be heard to say “On est à l’Enfer” which translates as ‘we are in Hell’, due to the intense heat endured on these south facing plots. The vineyard is situated in the heart of Condrieu and comprises two hectares of south facing biotite, granite terraces. The vines were planted in 1957 and are on Richter 110 rootstocks and pruned to the simple Guyot style. Planted at a density of between 8,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare, they yield just 30 hectolitres per hectare. Due to the steep hillsides the use of machines is impossible; therefore the vineyard is maintained manually and sustainably, without the use of weed killers or insecticides.