Domaine Georges VERNAY - Terres d'Encre 2019
Domaine Georges Vernay is located in the town of Condrieu, in the north of the Rhône Valley. The estate was created in 1937 by Francis Vernay, with the first plantings in the locality of Coteau de Vernon. In 1940, he launched the now legendary first cuvée named “Coteau de Vernon”. In 1953, Georges Vernay took over from his father, he is recognised to having “saved” the Condrieu appellation and became the leader of an entire generation that after him would make this terroir one of the most recognised in the world. At the time, the Viognier grape variety was abandoned but Georges Vernay replanted his lands and revitalised them. Since 1996, Christine Vernay is the third generation of the Vernay family to manage the estate. After running the estate alone for over 10 years, Christine is now assisted in the vineyard by her younger brother Luc Vernay, who manages and supervises the field teams. For over 20 years, Christine Vernay has used organic farming methods, the entire estate is now certified. While she believes that organic farming is an ethical issue, she is moving towards biodynamics as a philosophy.
Terres d’Encre is made from 30-years-old Syrah, from 1.5 hectares of exposed terraces on a granite soil in the municipality of Chavanay, in Saint-Joseph. The grapes are hand-harvested at full maturity, then fully destemmed and vinified in stainless steel vats. It is then barrel-fermented for 2 to 3 weeks. The wine matures in barrels for 12 months, without new oak.
Grape variety: 100% Syrah