2008 was a cool and wet vintage in the Northern Rhone which led to some flowering problems in the Spring, disease pressure and vigor.  The best producers have steep, well-draining vineyard sites and practice active canopy management to allow aeration and maximize fruit exposure.  Most importantly, they hand harvest for severe selection of fruit.  In the small white appellation of Condrieu (about 350 planted acres), the vineyards are on a continuation of the steep slopes of Cote-Rotie to the north, on well-draining decomposed granite soils.
Guigal is a famous producer of classic reds from the Northern Rhone …

Viognier is the flagship white grape variety of the Northern Rhone.  While Cote-Rotie may blend up to 20% of viognier in their red wines, viognier reaches its ultimate expression in Condrieu where it must make up 100% of the wine.  Viognier is also made into a sweet wine in the small appellation and monopole of Chateau Grillet.  Viognier is one of the great “aromatic” whites with intense floral aromas and characteristic apricot flavors.  It is a grape with naturally high sugars which means higher alcohol wines of 14% or so and …