Condrieu `Chanson` , Domaine du Monteillet

The 24 hectare estate covers 3 appellations in the Northern Rhône; St. Joseph, Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie. The grapes are grown on very steep, terraced vineyards on the right bank of the river and are protected from the prevailing westerly winds by the neighbouring Mont du Pilat. Minimum intervention is the viticultural approach and all the vineyard work has to be done manually due to the steep gradients. The Viognier for this Condrieu `Chanson` comes a 2.5 hectare single vineyard - Chanson - in the village of Saint Michel sur Rhône where the soils are a loose granite soil known locally as arzelle. Harvesting is done by hand.