Domaine Stéphane Ogier : Les Vieilles Vignes de Jacques Vernay 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for Les Vieilles Vignes de Jacques Vernay 2021 from Domaine Stéphane Ogier

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a straw-yellow hue with golden highlights, typical of fully ripe Viognier while preserving its intrinsic freshness.

Nose

The nose opens on an expressive, abundant aromatic palette. Primary aromas dominate, with notes of fresh apricot, tropical lychee and white peach, alongside floral fragrances of rose, honeysuckle and acacia. Delicate touches of fresh honey and toasty notes round out the bouquet. A hint of crystalline minerality reminiscent of granite emerges, with subtle saline nuances that add complexity.

Palate

On the palate, the wine reveals a fleshy, generous texture, supported by a beautifully precise, structuring acidity that brings freshness and balance. The thirteen percent alcohol is well integrated, lending a gentle warmth without upsetting the overall harmony. The fruit remains refined, with notes of apricot and pear scattered across the palate. The acidity shines with precision, delivering a taut line that embodies balance and vitality. The remarkably long, fresh, fragrant finish extends well beyond the first impression, with rare saline persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This Condrieu pairs perfectly with roasted scallops, langoustines or delicately buttered roasted asparagus. It also matches beautifully with herb- and lemon-roasted poultry, roasted quail, mushroom risottos, or aromatic cuisines such as light Thai curries. Cooked-pressed Alpine cheeses also make an interesting pairing.

Serving and cellaring

Les Vieilles Vignes de Jacques Vernay 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 10 to 12°C. This wine can be enjoyed now, but it has exceptional aging potential and can evolve until around 2036.

An exceptional Condrieu combining crystalline minerality and the elegance of the Northern Rhône

The estate

For 6 generations, the Ogier family has been among the Rhône Valley’s leading producers of great wines. After studying viticulture and oenology and gaining extensive experience both in Bourgogne and abroad, Stéphane Ogier joined the family estate in 1997 alongside his father, Michel Ogier. Produced in limited quantities and showcasing the purest expression of their original terroir through parcel-by-parcel vinifications, the wines of Domaine Stéphane Ogier are renowned for their finesse and elegance.

The vineyard

Condrieu Les Vieilles Vignes de Jacques Vernay comes from an exceptional parcel of around three hectares, planted between 300 and 350 meters above sea level in the lieux-dits Veauvignière in Malleval and La Combe in Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf. This parcel lies entirely on granite formations, an ideal terroir to express the sought-after crystalline minerality. The vines average between twenty-five and sixty years old depending on the sector, providing deep rooting and remarkable mineral extraction capacity. Planting density reaches ten thousand vines per hectare, and yields are limited to thirty-five hectoliters per hectare to ensure flavor concentration.

The vintage

The winter of 2021 was marked by a frost episode that struck the entire French winegrowing landscape with rare intensity. Milder spring conditions encouraged flowering at the end of May, followed by particularly rainy months of June and July. Weather instability was observed from mid-July to mid-August. The timely rains at the end of August enabled optimal ripening, revealing berries of remarkable generosity and balance.

Vinification and aging

The Les Vieilles Vignes de Jacques Vernay 2021 harvest is carried out exclusively by hand, with rigorous sorting both in the vineyard and upon arrival at the winery. The grapes undergo direct pressing, releasing the juice without extracting undesirable compounds. The juice then ferments in 350-liter foudres rather than small barrels, allowing for slow, controlled fermentation while reducing oak extraction. Fermentation proceeds with indigenous yeasts naturally present. After complete fermentation, the wine is aged for ten months on its fine lees, giving it additional body, enhanced suppleness and nuanced aromatic complexity. The proportion of new barrels remains very low in order to preserve the minerality of the Viognier.

Grape variety

100% Viognier