2006 Côte-Rôtie Maison Rouge

Christine Vernay described herself as very happy with the 2008 Condrieus. "It's a floral vintage with very good spiciness, but nothing too pronounced or assertive," she explained. "The wines aren't exotic, which pleases me because I really don't like vulgar viognier; I like it to be like lace: complex but delicate." Her husband Paul Amsellem, who is a pianist, described the difference between what Vernay seeks and the extroverted school of Condrieu as "like comparing Mozart to Holst, or Wagner.? We're more into Mozart here. You could also compare them to early John Coltrane and his later work."? (Martine's Wines, Novato, CA; Simon N Cellars, Charlottesville, VA; Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ)