WTN: Really crappy reds. Insanely awesome whites.

2000 Château Cabrières Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Corked. Yay. A romantic start to the evening.

2004 Fox Gordon Shiraz (Barossa Valley) Hannah's Swing
Goop. Vanilla, massively extracted black and red fruits with some spice (add in the words hedonistic, opulent, sexy and full-throttle where relevant/possible), high and very obvious alcohol with no noticeable acidity - ugh.

2005 Faiveley Bourgogne
I have no clue what's off with this bottle, but even as a Burgundy novice I get the impression that something is very off as NO WINE SHOULD SMELL LIKE PEANUT OIL (especially with lots of alcohol mixed in). Next!

2007 Guigal Condrieu La Doriane
Oh mercy, a decent wine at last! Actually decent is a massive understatement, this is awesome on so many levels. Gorgeous aromatics of honey, apricot and white fruits mingled with perfumed floral notes, honey and minerals, fantastic in the mouth with lots of richness and power to the fruit and floral elements, with surprising acidity (for a Viognier) lending really good precision and focus to the ripe floral and fruit flavours and keeping the sweetness and richness of the wine from ever being overbearing. The finish is all peaches and minerals with fantastic length, a really lovely wine. Yum!

2002 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
Freaking amazing. Thrilling aromatics of lime, green apple, minerals, oyster shells and touches of honey and petrol, and so refreshing and cool in the mouth with a dominant mineral character that makes this feel as if it came from a slab of marble rather than grapes. There's an incredible precision and focus to the fruit with tremendous acidity and the structure and depth of flavour suggests this is a wine that's going to last for a very long time. Wow!

2002 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
Freaking amazing. Thrilling aromatics of lime, green apple, minerals, oyster shells and touches of honey and petrol, and so refreshing and cool in the mouth with a dominant mineral character that makes this feel as if it came from a slab of marble rather than grapes. There's an incredible precision and focus to the fruit with tremendous acidity and the structure and depth of flavour suggests this is a wine that's going to last for a very long time. Wow!

So how does this compare to Kellerberg!

2007 Guigal Condrieu La Doriane
Oh mercy, a decent wine at last! Actually decent is a massive understatement, this is awesome on so many levels. Gorgeous aromatics of honey, apricot and white fruits mingled with perfumed floral notes, honey and minerals, fantastic in the mouth with lots of richness and power to the fruit and floral elements, with surprising acidity (for a Viognier) lending really good precision and focus to the ripe floral and fruit flavours and keeping the sweetness and richness of the wine from ever being overbearing. The finish is all peaches and minerals with fantastic length, a really lovely wine. Yum!

2002 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
Freaking amazing. Thrilling aromatics of lime, green apple, minerals, oyster shells and touches of honey and petrol, and so refreshing and cool in the mouth with a dominant mineral character that makes this feel as if it came from a slab of marble rather than grapes. There's an incredible precision and focus to the fruit with tremendous acidity and the structure and depth of flavour suggests this is a wine that's going to last for a very long time. Wow!

Thanks for all the TNs and commiserations on the disappointments.

I had the 07 La Doriane in April for the first time and it was clearly the best Viognier [Condrieu] I have had since a couple of George Vernay's old vine Condrieus last year. I have found Condrieu [and other 100% Viognier wines] a pretty polarising experience and have had more that I have found wanting than I have truly enjoyed.

However this was excellent without the slightly sickly sweet and sour and occasionally metallic aspects that poorer versions seem to have. Of course the La Doriane is expensive but your TN hit all the key notes I can recall.

I haven't had the 2002 CFE but had the 2001 a few months ago. It will, I think be a great wine, but did not seem as ready as the wine you describe although you also make the point that the 02 will last "for a very long time".

[David M. Bueker]

That's the first positive note I have seen on the Guigal Doriane in a long time. I have not personally had the wine since the '97 vintage, and found that one marked by oak. I don't see oak in your note Salil.

As for the CFE 2002 - it is more open than the 2001, though it has enough stuffing to go the distance. I am looking forward to a vertical of the 2000, 2001 and 2002 at some point in the future.

That's the first positive note I have seen on the Guigal Doriane in a long time. I have not personally had the wine since the '97 vintage, and found that one marked by oak. I don't see oak in your note Salil.

Interesting because others have commented on oak vis a vis previous La Dorianes.

The 07 was the first la Doriane I have had and I certainly don't recall oak as an intrusive or excessive element in the taste.

Other comments have suggested that these wines are better with some age but that has not been my [limited] experience with Condrieu generally although one of the Vernay's I have had was over 10 years old and still fresh.

So how does this compare to Kellerberg!

I'd drink both any day! (Although I'd love to compare a CFE sometime with a Steinertal - which I always find more sleek and minerally than Kellerberg)

Nigel, I'm with you on the 07 Doriane - I've had mixed experiences with this wine in the past; liked the 05 but found it too over the top in other years with either too much oak or a heavy, cloying character to the fruit. This though was a big step above any of the Dorianes I've had before and among the best Condrieus I've had (right up there with the one Vernay I've had and a Perret Chanson) with a really nice minerality and acidity to it and the alcohol very well balanced.

Thanks for notes.
I have to find some (reasonably priced) 02 CFE
I am among camp who have found the Doriane too oaky in past vintages