Domaine Georges Vernay : La Dame Brune 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for La Dame Brune 2021 from Domaine Georges Vernay

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance reveals a deep red color with violet highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals aromas of ripe black fruits (plum, blackcurrant, blackberry), alongside floral notes of violet and iris. With aeration, spicy nuances of white and black pepper emerge, along with mineral touches evoking warm rock and subtle hints of tobacco and leather.

Palate

The attack is supple, and the palate delights with its silky, velvety texture. Flavors of autumn fruits and blackcurrant intertwine with a remarkable saline freshness that brings precision to the palate. The tannins, perfectly ripe, are refined and elegant. The exemplary minerality, characteristic of the granitic terroir, gives the wine a saline, lightly iodine-tinged dimension. The long, persistent finish lingers on spicy notes of licorice and aromatic herbs.

Food and wine pairings

La Dame Brune 2021 pairs perfectly with roasted or braised red meats such as beef or lamb, game, and duck dishes. It also matches beautifully with dishes featuring wild mushrooms, grilled or roasted vegetables, as well as aged hard cheeses.

Serving and storage

It is recommended to serve La Dame Brune 2021 between 14 and 18°C. Light aeration of around thirty minutes in a decanter allows the wine to fully express its aromas. This wine can be enjoyed now but will gain in complexity over time. It can be cellared until around 2039.

The freshness and finesse of a Saint-Joseph

The estate

Founded in 1938 by Francis Vernay, Domaine Georges Vernay now spans approximately 24 hectares across the Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie and Saint-Joseph appellations in the Rhône Valley. Georges Vernay, who took over the estate in 1953, played a pivotal role in preserving the Condrieu appellation and the Viognier grape variety, earning him the nickname "Mr. Viognier". Since 1996, Christine Vernay has led the estate with a philosophy focused on environmental respect and the pursuit of excellence. The estate earned organic certification in 2020 and continues its progress toward biodynamics. Christine Vernay has received numerous distinctions, including three stars in the Guide Vert of Revue du Vin de France in 2020. Her daughter Emma Amsellem joined the estate in 2020, representing the family’s fourth generation.

The vineyard

The vineyard from which La Dame Brune is produced lies in the commune of Chavanay, in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. The 45-year-old Syrah vines are planted on a steep, southeast-facing slope, on granitic soils. This configuration makes any mechanization impossible and requires entirely manual work. The estate practices certified organic viticulture, encouraging biodiversity through the planting of old fruit tree varieties and native grasses.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in the Rhône Valley was marked by a mild winter followed by a spring frost episode that affected many French vineyards. Flowering took place in late May under milder conditions. June and July were particularly rainy, creating variable ripening conditions. Despite these climatic challenges, rigorous selection at harvest made it possible to obtain grapes of fine quality.

Winemaking and aging

After hand harvesting, the grapes for La Dame Brune 2021 were partially destemmed, keeping some stems to bring complexity and tannic structure. Fermentation took place in barrels for two to three weeks, allowing a gradual extraction of aromatic and tannic compounds. The wine was then aged for 18 to 24 months in French oak barrels, around 30% of which were new, the remainder being barrels used for one or more previous wines. This moderate proportion of new oak adds subtle vanilla and spice notes without masking the expression of the granitic terroir.

Grape variety

100% Syrah.