Yves Cuilleron : La Petite Côte 2024

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Condrieu "La Petite Côte" 2024 by Yves Cuilleron

Tasting notes

Colour
The wine reveals a brilliant colour, adorned with a beautiful golden, crystalline hue.

Nose
Wonderfully complex, the aromatic bouquet exudes delicious notes of yellow-fleshed fruit, such as quince and fresh apricot. This is enhanced by delicate floral touches reminiscent of violet and acacia, along with subtle nuances of honey.

Palate
The palate seduces with its silky, round and voluptuous texture, perfectly balanced by a well-controlled freshness and beautiful natural acidity. Aromas of white fruit and flowers linger through to a long finish, underscored by a crisp touch of bitterness that is particularly refreshing.

Food and wine pairing
This white wine pairs wonderfully with refined appetisers based on salmon, cured ham or foie gras. It also excels alongside exotic and spicy dishes such as a shrimp curry with coconut milk, delicate fish, or lightly seasoned white meats and poultry.

The elegance and minerality of a white wine from the Rhône Valley

The estate
Founded in 1920 in Chavanay, at the heart of the northern Rhône Valley, the family estate underwent a true turning point when Yves Cuilleron took the reins in 1987. This former engineer, driven by passion, meticulously developed the estate. Eschewing standardised certifications, the current owner favours a sustainable and highly personal approach to winegrowing. The estate has thus become an essential reference, brilliantly combining respect for tradition with a modern vision of winemaking.

The vineyard
The grapes used in this cuvée come from the Condrieu appellation, more specifically from plots located around the village of Chavanay and the hamlet of Verlieu. Planted on terraces along steep slopes that require exclusively manual work, the young vines benefit from an ideal south and southeast exposure. They thrive on a highly specific geological terroir, made up entirely of muscovite granite. The vineyard is managed in an environmentally friendly manner, with no insecticides used, limited applications of organic fertilisers, and strict yield control through bud thinning.

Winemaking and aging
Following manual harvesting and rigorous sorting, the grapes for "La Petite Côte" 2024 are pressed, then the must is left to rest for twenty-four hours for natural settling. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in barrels, driven exclusively by indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged for nine months on the lees, with regular stirring and no racking. This maturation period takes place half in 30-hectolitre wooden vats, and half in small Burgundy barrels during the last eight months.

Grape variety
This wine is crafted exclusively from Viognier.