The producer: Domaine Lionel Faury
Lionel is making stunning wines and has definitely moved his 17 hectares family domaine to the top of the first division of growers and super value in both red and white. A champion of ‘joutes’, his determination shows in his wines.
The Condrieu Tradition, 100% Viognier, is fermented in stainless steel and aged for 11 months in a mixture of stainless steel and oak, creating a deliciously aromatic wine with a creamy texture. The Condrieu La Berne, named after the previous owners of the land and referring to a specific plot where Lionel’s father first planted vines, is wonderfully elegant & linear whilst maintaining a richness in texture.
His Saint Joseph Blanc is a blend of 60% Marsanne and 40% Roussanne, planted on steep slopes and hand-picked; drink within 5 years for optimum freshness.
For the reds, the Saint Joseph Les Ribaudes, from 10-35-year-old vines and bottled without filtration, is intensely fruity, fresh with a note of minerality and spice. In comparison, the Saint Joseph La Gloriette is from 45 to 65-year-old vines, which interestingly benefit from being north facing as the windiness means for a longer ripening period, producing an intense, characterful wine which will benefit from ageing. Some say the finest St Joseph of the North!
Lionel’s Côte Rôtie Réviniscence is from the Côte Brune (schist / clay soil); with 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier, it is beautifully juicy, elegant and pure with a long, subtly / gritty tannic finish. The Emporium is a barrel selection from ‘Fourvier’ – one of 3 parcels Lionel uses in the Côte Rôtie – a velvety, refined and complex cuvée with fresh fruit notes complimented by intense spice, minerality, violet and epitomising the finesse of Lionel’s domaine.