Condrieu La Doriane, Guigal

ripe yellow robe; the bouquet is full, but not too intense, the oak bringing overt toasting more than vanilla, a good thing. There are buttery, grilled notes, infused herbal tea airs, quince fruit present. The palate has a stylishly rich start, centres around a firm gras, takes a slightly red wine route in its structure, the finish emphatic, notes of tannin there. It sustains well. Take your time with this: from 2023, decant it. It will show very well around 2026. - John Livingstone-Learmonth

While the 2020 Condrieu la Doriane matured entirely in new oak, there's just a hint of toast on the nose. The rest of the bouquet features a kaleidoscopic swirl of floral and spice notes with melon and white peach. Medium to full-bodied, it's exquisitely expansive and silky in texture, yet it remains refreshing on the lengthy, mouthwatering finish. - Joe Czerwinski

(aged for eight months in new oak barrels) Light bright yellow. Expansive aromas of ripe nectarine, pear liqueur, candied fig and pungent flowers, along with a smoky mineral nuance that builds in the background. Palate-staining, impressively concentrated citrus and pit fruit flavors show superb clarity and become more energetic with air, picking up a touch of lemon curd. The mineral and floral qualities come back emphatically on the extremely persistent, penetrating finish, which shows a suave blend of power and finesse. - Josh Raynolds

Bottled in June 2017, the 2016 Condrieu la Doriane is entirely barrel-fermented in new oak. This vintage seems more restrained and less rich than some others, but it remains marked by smoky, grilled apricot aromas and flavors. It’s nicely balanced and not overly opulent, retaining a sense of elegance on the long, spicy finish. - Joe Czerwinski

Gracieuse et élégante dans son approche des saveurs (fleurs et fruits blancs et jaunes), mais racée et percutante dans son allonge sensorielle (épices nobles et boisée torréfiés), cette cuvée embellie sauvagement nos papilles! Epineuse ronce de roses

Blend of four vineyards, aged in 100% new oak. Rich with vanilla oak, and juicy, spicy fruit too. Has that modern, oaky sheen that doesn’t quite dominate the fruit, but is a defining feature of the palate. Massive volume and depth. Impressive in a completely unsubtle fashion.

Offers a flattering, corpulent feel, with pear, creamed peach and papaya notes that glide along, lined with macadamia nut, bitter almond and green fig details. A flash of salted butter gives the showy finish good contrast. Very long, exhibiting gorgeous mouthfeel

Another wine I was able to re-taste, the 2013 Condrieu la Doriane, continues to pretty much make my eyes roll back in my head every time I taste it. Orange rind, tangerine, spice and buttered citrus all flow from this stacked, medium to full-bodied Condrieu that packs tons of fruit and texture into an elegant, fresh and clean package.