The Producer
Château-Grillet is one of the most confidential and unique appellations in the northern Rhône Valley. Its history dates back to Roman times, when viticulture was already established on these steep slopes overlooking the Rhône. The estate obtained its own controlled designation of origin in 1936, a rare distinction as it pertains to only one estate, making Château-Grillet a true monopoly. Long owned by the Neyret-Gachet family, the estate was acquired in 2011 by the Pinault family through Artémis Domaines, marking the beginning of a new era focused on excellence and the enhancement of this unique wine heritage.
The vineyard of Château-Grillet extends over approximately 3.8 hectares, forming a spectacular amphitheater predominantly facing south and southeast, in the municipality of Vérin, in the heart of the Condrieu area. The vines, planted exclusively with Viognier, thrive on steep terraces supported by dry stone walls. The soils are mainly composed of decomposed granite and granite sands, providing remarkable natural drainage. This combination of exposure, slope, and geological nature promotes a slow and homogeneous maturation of the grapes, giving the wines a particularly complex and refined aromatic signature.
Today, Château-Grillet produces an exceptional white wine recognized for its rarity and unusual aging potential for a Viognier. Under the impetus of Artemis Domaines, the work in the vineyard and winery has been strengthened to preserve the purest expression of the terroir. The winemaking emphasizes precision and elegance, with measured aging allowing the full aromatic depth and silky texture of the wine to be revealed. Château-Grillet thus embodies the alliance between historical tradition and contemporary demands, establishing itself as one of the absolute references for great whites of the Rhône.
The Wine
Harvest: exclusively manual picking, rigorous sorting in the vineyard and upon arrival at the winery, seeking optimal maturity of the Viognier.
Winemaking and aging: fermentations in French oak barrels with temperature control, aging on fine lees for several months to bring complexity, texture, and aging potential.
Tasting
Here speaks the place. Its granite language translates into a mineral expression often accompanied by a marine freshness, briny, even mentholated. The nose, complex and evolving, also reveals subtle floral notes (rose, violet, linden), white and exotic fruits (pear, pineapple, apricot), and sometimes hints of honey, hazelnut, saffron, or white truffle. Nevertheless, Château Grillet does not seek the exuberance of viognier and naturally stands out for its delicacy. The palate, ample and energetic, unfolds with precision and depth.