AN ODE TO VIOGNIER
There may be no better way
to spend a fading summer day,
Nay! There may be no better wine
to mimic drops of gold sunshine,
than a glass of Viognier
...from André Perret!
If written poetry isn't for you, perhaps you'd prefer the liquid poetry of Condrieu. Few regions, and grape varietals, offer such a cerebral and immersive sipping experience as Viognier from Northern Rhône, and few vignerons work with such intelligent care in the vineyard as André Perret. His 2022 bottlings have arrived, and this is not a vintage to be missed.
Like many of our favorite producers, Perret chooses to forego the use of any chemical sprays, as well as any kind of organic certification. His previous experience as a microbiologist is evident in his devotion to soil health, and this is his key to success in chemical-free viticulture. In the Perret cellar, the same scientific understanding guides a slow and subtle elevage, allowing the wines to express themselves with minimal oak influence.
There is a rich and unabashed beauty to the 2022 whites; energetic and generous, pushed to exceptional ripeness by the long droughts of a growing season that tested the patience of both vines and vigneron. Still, André Perret found balance here, due to his wise picking dates and his gentle hand in the cellar, and managed to produce wines that remain lively while showcasing the myriad flavors that Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne are famous for.
