A late-harvest sweet wine, unusual for the region, the Condrieu Patience evokes violet and yellow fruit. Harvested from 20-year-old Viognier vines and only made on exceptional years, Patience is a lovely reward for those who can wait for it.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  In lieu of dessert, some prefer to serve a decadent dessert wine with an accompaniment of cheeses. This beauty has flavors of honey, apricot, acacia, and pure joy. Very pleasant, honeyed mouthfeel. Stone fruits a-plenty on a drawn-out finish. A dessert wine, but not syrupy, thick, or overly sweet. If you find an irresistible blue cheese or camembert, pop the cork on this bottle to go along with it.

  Food pairing: Cambozola cheese

A dry but mellow cuvée, this Condrieu is a blend from 30-year-old Viognier vines in different parcels. We find it sweet but not cloying, perfect with food.

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  Deborah Adeyanju

  The nose—mostly suggesting wet stone, earth, and mushrooms—has an almost rancio character with hints of white flowers and other floral elements in the background. Honey and lychee flavors play on the palate. Rich and heady, the fruit flavors are so concentrated the wine gives an impression of sweetness, yet it is quite dry. Stony minerality marks a lengthy finish.

  Food pairing: Indian and other Asian foods

Montez’s Condrieus are rich, ripe wines, made in a much bolder style than our other Condrieus. Les Grandes Chaillées is a plump wine that combines Viognier grapes from three areas: Chavanay for its apricot taste; Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône for minerality; and Vérin for richness.

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  Deborah Adeyanju

  Savory scents characterize the nose, with suggestions of vegetation and the aroma of chalk. Delicate and light-bodied, but the generous, youthful palate is virtually bursting with stone fruit flavors nevertheless. The finish is elegant, but so concentrated that the wine seems sweeter than it actually is.

  Food pairing: spicy Asian foods; apricot and peach tarts

This classic Condrieu, assembled from several Viognier vines, bears the trademark of François Merlin’s taste: not too cloying and sweet, with vivacity and minerality.

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  Colin Talcroft

  Suggestive of white peaches and melon with sappy scents and something a little more pungent in the background—hints of spice—along with straightforward fruit. Very dry on the palate, despite a somewhat fleshy decadence. Full-bodied, pungent, strong, and spicy, yet with clean, sappy flavors. Intense but with finesse. Protracted, spicy finish. Ready to drink now but probably will keep nicely through around 2016.

  Food pairing: Pasta primavera in a light cream sauce, light curry dishes, the local goat cheese "Rigotte de Condrieu"

This classic Condrieu, assembled from several Viognier vines, bears the trademark of François Merlin’s taste: not too cloying and sweet, with vivacity and minerality.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  The nose on this wine is very intense. I want to wear this as perfume! It smells rich, seductive and a tiny bit sweet (lots of ripe apricot) but the mouthfeel is anything but. Very rich and dense, with a dry finish. If you want to impress your friends during the next wine-and-cheese party, bring this bottle with a good camembert.

  Food pairing: Stinky French cheese, camembert

Montez’ Condrieus are rich, ripe wines, made in a much bolder style than our other Condrieus. Chanson is a blend of grapes from Viognier vines aged 10-30 years in the Chanson lieu-dit, producing a ripe but balanced wine that is fruitier than the usual Condrieu — reminiscent of the Sauternes wines from Bordeaux.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  Vibrant with plenty of delicious apricot, pear, and Meyer lemon scents up front. The nose is inviting, the palate even more seductive, with opulent stone fruit and a balancing citrus bite.

  Food pairing: Grilled prawns

The domaine’s top cuvée, this is François Merlin’s “keeping wine”, the one he takes out to show off to guests. “A definite cut above” Merlin’s other Condrieu, according to Rhône expert Livingstone-Learmonth.

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  Deborah Adeyanju

  Sweet spice predominates on the nose. The palate is rich and heady, with intensely concentrated stone fruit and floral flavors leading to a dry finish characterized by chalky mineral notes.

  Food pairing: Thai food; fruit tarts

The domaine’s top cuvée, this is François Merlin’s “keeping wine”, the one he takes out to impress his guests. “A definite cut above” Merlin’s other Condrieu, according to Rhône expert Livingstone-Learmonth.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  This wine has a definite barrel smell at first, lots of vanilla and some toast. As it opens up, the stonefruit starts to show. This is a dry-style wine but it is not crisp — it is robust and intense.

  Food pairing: Lobster

Created with Pichon’s oldest and best exposed Viognier vines, then aged in new oak for 9 months, this Condrieu is rich, ripe, and concentrated. It is Pichon’s top Condrieu!

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  A happy, zingy wine with loads of pear, tangy apricot, and spice. Ripe fruit but also herbal notes (I detected a bit of basil.) A perfect wine to drink outdoors with grilled fish and spring vegetables.

  Food pairing: Grilled halibut