Condrieu La Doriane, Etienne Guigal 2021

Coming from five separate lieux-dits and brought up all in new oak, the 2021 Condrieu La Doriane brings another level of depth as well as complexity. Medium-bodied (as are just about all 2021s) and wonderfully balanced, with notable freshness, it has lots of white peach and honeyed stone fruits, a kiss of chalky minerality, nicely integrated acidity, and a touch of classy, perfectly balanced oak. It's a more chiseled, elegant expression of this cuvée that will drink brilliantly over the coming 5-7 years or more.

Appears remarkably balanced on the nose in terms of oak - it doesn't dominate. Full-bodied, rich, opulent, but with a good sense of aromatic freshness. Powerful on the palate, with balanced alcohol and a gentle saline hint. The finish is long and not dried out from the oak, it stays succulent, silky, juicy and mandarin-infused. All parcels fermented separately in new oak, then blended.