The 2000 Condrieu offers up an excellent perfume of peach and apricot jam, a fat personality, low acidity, superb ripeness, and an unctuous texture. Enjoy it during its first several years of life. Guigal produces approximately one-third of Condrieu's total production, and, not surprisingly, his offerings are generally among the top three or four of the vintage. Two-thousand was a better year for whites than reds in the northern Rhone, and that is evidenced by his two cuvees of Condrieu. Importer: Fred Ek, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153

The 2000 Condrieu offers up an excellent perfume of peach and apricot jam, a fat personality, low acidity, superb ripeness, and an unctuous texture. Enjoy it during its first several years of life. Guigal produces approximately one-third of Condrieu's total production, and, not surprisingly, his offerings are generally among the top three or four of the vintage. Two-thousand was a better year for whites than reds in the northern Rhone, and that is evidenced by his two cuvees of Condrieu.Importer: Fred Ek, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153

Unlike so many Condrieus, this is a wine that needs to be aged. From a parcel of land in the south end of the Condrieu appellation, this vintage is currently dominated by new wood. But under that, there is elegant, spicy fruit with delicious flavors of ripe pears and peaches. Just a hint of acidity gives it structure and considerable potential for aging. ——R.V.(6/1/2002)—— 92