Lionel Faury 'Le Mornieux' Condrieu, Rhône Valley, France 2021

This wine is named for the Le Mornieux, a small stream that runs just below this parcel of Condrieu Viognier.

• Farming: Organic
• Winemaker: Lionel Faury
• Variety: Viognier
• Terroir: Granite. The vineyard is laid out in dry stone terraces (“les chaillées”) with a south-south-east exposure. Vines were planted between 1976 and 2007 on 3.3 ha of steep slopes of granite (with a grade of up to 55%) facing south by southeast. 
• Vinification: Grapes are hand-picked and pressed gently in a pneumatic press. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel cuves. Harvested in small boxes, the grapes are pressed then put in the cold and settled 36 to 48 hours later. Alcoholic fermentation takes place mainly in stainless steel vats with controlled temperatures.
  
• Aging: 11 months on lees, 40% 225-500 liter barrels barrel (10% new barrels, 30% 2 to 5-year-old barrels) and 60% stainless steel. Light filtration before bottling by gravity.
• Tasting notes: Complex nose of yellow stone fruits (apricots, peaches, etc.) with floral notes (violet, acacia flowers, etc.). Rich and ample palate.
• Pairings: Accompanies festive dinner buffets, spring asparagus in all its forms, poultry, fresh and matured goat cheeses.

Along the steep, narrow valley that traces the northern Rhône, the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Saint-Joseph take their place among the great wines of France, and Domaine Faury is one of the region’s most artisanal producers. When Philippe Faury took over the domaine in 1979, the family was selling wine, peaches, and cherries, and the bulk of their clientele was local. Over the years, Philippe expanded their holdings to over eleven hectares and expanded sales to an international client base.  In addition, he has shared his savoir-faire with his son, Lionel.  Since 2006, Lionel has taken over the reins at Domaine Faury, though father and son still work side by side.