2018 André Perret Condrieu Clos Chanson

Green-hued straw. Highly expressive, mineral-accented citrus pith, pit fruit and violet scents show impressive detail and vivacity. Offers penetrating pink grapefruit, Anjou pear, white peach and candied ginger flavors that are complemented by a subtle anise quality. Finishes with powerful mineral cut and energetic lift, leaving suave floral and mineral notes behind.

The star of the show in 2018 is the 2018 Condrieu Clos Chanson , which offers more stone fruits, white flowers, and honeysuckle as well as a touch more mid-palate density, opulence, and length. It’s a magical Condrieu in the making, and I suspect it will rank with the top handful of wines in the vintage. One of the insider-only producers in Condrieu is Andre Perret, who has a tiny cellar just south of the village of Condrieu. His whites are consistently at the top of the heap in the Northern Rhône, and his reds rarely get the credit and recognition they deserve. You can’t go wrong with any of these wines, and if you have tried a wine from Perret, get out there and find a bottle!