If you missed out on our ultra-rare offer for Coteau de Vernon—the undisputed holy grail of Viognier—this is your ticket to the same iconic estate at a fraction of the price. Domaine Georges Vernay literally saved Viognier from extinction when the appellation had dwindled to just seven hectares, making them the ultimate global benchmark for the variety. Today, this legend is powered entirely by family affair: third-generation winemaker Christine Vernay now works side-by-side in the fields and cellar with her daughter, Emma, pushing their steep granite terraces into organic mastery.

While we only have 3 bottles left of the sacred Vernon bottling, the 2024 "Les Terrasses de l'Empire" offers the same regal pedigree from younger, ~35-to-40-year-old vines planted in granite, mica, and schist soils right alongside the Vernon site. Fermented on native yeasts and aged in large 2,000L neutral oak casks (tronconiques), it pours with an intoxicating perfume of honeysuckle, spring lemon blossom, white peach, and fresh almond. The palate delivers Viognier's classic, voluptuous richness—balanced by Christine's signature vertical line of laser-focused acidity that keeps the wine vibrant, energetic, and endlessly refreshing.

It is a study in balance, built to drink beautifully now or age for years as its core mineral line deepens. For the ultimate culinary pairing, pour this cool alongside seared scallops with brown butter and toasted hazelnuts—the wine's decadent honeysuckle aromatics and bright citrus drive cut through the nutty, rich brown butter with flawless precision. Grab two or more bottles of this benchmark white before our micro- allocation vanishes.

Santé!

Critical Acclaim:

94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck:

“Just next to the Coteau de Vernon, the 2024 Condrieu Les Terrasses De L'Empire offers beautiful aromatics of ripe citrus, orange, white flowers, and a kiss of earthy minerality. It's medium-bodied, has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautifully integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's geared for drinking over the coming 4-6 years.”

94 Points, Wine Advocate:

“The 2024 Condrieu les Terrasses de l'Empire, sourced from upper-slope parcels and younger vines from Vernon, was vinified in truncated wooden vats and matured in used barrels. It opens with an elegant, fresh and gourmand bouquet of honeysuckle, apricot and white fruits, complemented by delicate spicy nuances. Medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and dense, it’s enveloping and well-rounded yet retains sufficient tension on the finish to bring freshness and lift. Fine, floral and saline, it concludes with an ethereal finish and is already highly approachable, which is not always the case at this stage.”

94 Points, Wine Spectator:

“Balances richness with freshness. Alluring honeysuckle and floral high tones give way to persimmon, orange and melon, all flecked with fresh fennel, dried thyme and oregano. Shows real concentration and vibrates with energy and bitter mineral notes, with just a touch of buttercream streaming through. The finish is long and complex.”