A full-bodied, powerful white, with exuberant floral, lychee, apricot and green plum inlaid with tea and dried heather. Shows good concentration on the palate, which is edged in honey and salty mineral. The long finish is driven by zesty grapefruit pithy bitterness that keeps it balanced and lively. Drink now through 2030. 334 cases made, 22 cases imported.??–KB??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Condrieu Select to Add

Bottled in June 2021, a bit earlier than usual, the 2020 Condrieu les Terrasses de l'Empire is another terrific entry-level Condrieu. Floral up front, plump and frankly delicious, it delivers plenty of ripe pineapple and apricot flavors, ample weight and richness on the palate and a long finish tinged with hints of fresh ginger and cracked pepper. Drink it over the next few years.

Marked by a delicate balance of light, pleasant florals, ripe pineapple and apricot, the 2019 Condrieu les Terrasses de l'Empire avoids any sense of heaviness. It's medium to full-bodied, silky textured and fine, with luscious nuances of gingery-peppery spice on the lingering finish. Grown on the upper slopes above Condrieu in the lieux-dits of La Caille and Sainte-Agathe, the soils are biotite granite, with fermentation and aging in oak vats and barrels, without any new wood.

Vernay's entry-level Condrieu—the 2018 Condrieu les Terrasses de l'Empire—strikes a fine balance between ebullience and restraint, plushness and structure. Flowers and apricots are joined by hints of white pepper in this medium to full-bodied effort. Still showing a bit of dissolved carbon dioxide, it's zesty and fresh, with a hint of citrus pith on the finish.