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André Perret

André Perret took control of the family domaine - just half a hectare - in 1982. Like many small vignerons of the northern Rhône, the Perret family were small-scale farmers, growing fruit and keeping livestock as well as tending their small plot of vines. In fact the main concern here was the orchard, but this is now very much a sideline business, because the quality of Condrieu coming from André Perret's property is top-class.

With such a small domaine expansion was vital, and soon after taking control André Perret purchased a number of plots of Condrieu, together with some in St Joseph, increasing the size of their holdings to over 8 hectares. The new acquisitions included two lieux-dits Chéry and Clos Chanson. The Condrieu is made with as little intervention as Perret feels is possible, but their is use of bâtonnage and half the wine spends some time in used oak. A light fining and filtration is also employed. The Condrieu cuvées available from André Perret include a basic Condrieu, the lieux-dit bottlings Condrieu Chéry and Clos Chanson, and there has even been a vendange tardive bottling in some vintages.

André Perret also produces a number of very good wines from the nearby St Joseph appellation. His St Joseph Blanc is a 100% Marsanne, which can be very good, and he also produces two 100% Syrah St Joseph cuvées; a standard red St Joseph and the more impressive St Joseph Les Grisières. This is an excellent Rhône for early drinking, and is rightly regarded by a wine merchant friend of mine as the Northern Rhône's best value red. (27/3/02)

Contact details:
Address: Verlieu, 42410 Chavanay
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 74 87 24 74
Fax: +33 (0) 4 74 87 05 26
Internet: www.isasite.net/perret

André Perret - Tasting Notes

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André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2004: Another two bottles of this opened at a seasonal dinner party, completely demolishing my small stash of this wine. Just as brilliant as the first bottle, with very precise, vibrant pine kernel and pistachio on the nose. Packed with flavour on the palate, with lovely grip, good concentration and fine acidity. Just delightful, and unsurprisingly a real crowd pleaser. Excellent. A Christmas Wine. 19/20 (December 2006)

André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2004: This is just about the perfect wine. If there has ever existed a perfect bottle of Condrieu then this might just be it. If there is a wine neophyte who wants to experience Viognier at its apogee, then again this is it. If there is a naysayer who questions the worth of this tiny Northern Rhône appellation, and the expensive bottles it yields, then this is the one to change their mind. The nose is just pure essence of Viognier, not in a fat and flabby style, rather a taut, delineated insistence, with fabulous pine kernel and pear fruit character on the nose just singing out with joy. And the palate does not disappoint. The difficulty with Viognier is that it is too easy to run to a fat, opulent, low acid style as a result of high sugar content in the berries as the vigneron awaited physiological ripeness. No such problem here, the palate showing just a little fatness through the midpalate, but always backed up by a grippy, bitter-edged structure. Delicious quinine flavour, with a little stone fruit, in a very incisive style. An absolute classic, benchmark Condrieu which displays typicité, precision and panache all rolled into one. This wine speaks volumes to me. This is why I enjoy wine so much, and it takes me back to all the joy I experienced when I started out drinking and tasting wine. If you can get some, you must. For label images and more see my Wine of the Week write-up. 19/20 (December 2006)

André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2001: This wine did go through a rather dumb, awkward phase a few years ago. But today, this vibrant yet pale golden wine, tinged with the slightest lemon-green, carries a nose bearing fascinating similarities to a younger Condrieu, although there are also advanced features which set it apart. Most familiar is the pine kernel element which can mark Condrieu, although here it has a broader, richer, more nutty character. Alongside this there is deeper complexity, notes of baked pears, honey and baklawa, a melange of honey and pistachio nuts, pastry or sweet and crispy confectionery. The palate is still slightly fat and benefits from a cool serving temperature to ameliorate the wine's slight softness that comes from a typically low acidity. But it certainly has grip and structure, a bitter nut-tinged element carrying the secondary flavours through towards the finish. It has a really broad and flattering character here, showing a richness and smoothly polished texture, but never veering towards flabbiness or loss of focus - it always has that very direct, well defined grip behind it. A very appealing style which no doubt owes much to the skill of the winemaker and the quality of the raw materials. It opens out at the end, with a rich yet gently caressing character, and the finish goes on and on. This is really excellent. For label images and more see my Wine of the Week write-up. 18/20 (February 2008)

André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2001: A decent colour, and a good nose, quite classic, with peach, pine kernel, white pepper and nice fruit. A little fleshy, showing good grip and focus on the palate, although it doesn't stand up to food well. Good flavours, a quinine bitterness, and a little fatness too. This teeters on the brink of disappointment, having barely acceptable style, concentration and texture; it's not showing as well as previous bottles. But it delivers - just. 15.5/20 (January 2005)

André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2001: Another bottle opened for the arrival of spring - the last one was at Christmas. This displays a touch of onion skin to the colour. The nose is gorgeous, full of ripe peach, nectarine and acacia. A beautifully textured palate, showing more grip and structure than on either of my previous tastings, although there is still low acidity and a voluptuous, velvety mouthfeel. Rich and aromatic. Delicious stuff. 17.5/20 (March 2004)

André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2001: A classic floral, peach, pine kernel and smoke dominated nose. The palate has a big, fat texture, contrasted with a more sensitive flavour profile. Floral, very attractive and very typical Condrieu flavours, although it doesn't have the impact to match the impressive texture, and there is not enough acidity here. The result is a wine which unfortunately seems a touch flabby and unbalanced. Nevertheless there are enough positive notes to enjoy. 16.5+?/20 (December 2003)

André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2000: The first delivery and tasting of wine from a new vintage is always exciting, and this is one of many Rhônes I've purchased from the 2000 vintage. This wine has an appealing, pale lemon-gold colour. A wonderful nose, full of classic apricot, peach and pine kernel aromas, together with a knob of herb butter. The palate is very well balanced, although the acidity is strong and clearly indicates that this wine will benefit from further time in bottle. Lovely flavours, though, with more apricot and pine nut character, with a bitter almond twist. A delightful wine, enjoyable now but full of potential for short term development. Try again in 6-12 months. 18/20 (May 2002)

André Perret St Joseph Les Grisières 1999: A vibrant, bright and youthful purple hue. Gorgeous aromas on the nose, with cherry pie and coffee, and a layer of buttery, toasty oak in the background. Packed with great cherry and summer fruits on the palate, with firm, rounded tannins and fine acidity. Great structure. Will improve over the next few years and drink well for several years thereafter. 17+/20 (March 2002)

André Perret St Joseph Les Grisières 1998: Again a vibrant, youthful purple. Lovely fruit on the nose, with liquorice, smoke, charred wood and a hint of toffee. Firm structure on the palate, with plenty of tannins and bright, peppery acidity. Good black fruits. Very approachable now although it will improve over the next year or two, and drink well for another year or two. 17.5+/20 (March 2002)

André Perret St Joseph Les Grisières 1997: This wine has a warm, earthy red patina. Evidence of some maturity on the nose, with a floral and black pepper edge to the elegant, fading fruit. Full and rounded fruit on the palate, with mature, supple tannins and good soft acidity. This is a classy wine. 17.5+/20 (March 2002)

André Perret St Joseph Les Grisières 1996: This wine has a warm, red edge. The nose has a more earthy, leathery profile. Nevertheless it seems a little hard on entry, with strong acidity, although there is plenty of cherry and berry fruit. It softens through the midpalate, taking on a more supple mouthfeel. There's little tannin. Drinking well now. 16.5+/20 (March 2002)

André Perret St Joseph Les Grisières 1995: A garnet red hue, quite vibrant, but showing just a touch of maturity. Aromatic nose, with roasted fruits and violets. Richly bodied on the palate, full but fluid and balanced. Soft, integrated tannins and correct acidity. Lovely length. A surprise when the identity was revealed. Clearly punching above it's weight, and therefore good value. An impressive showing considering I thought this to be somewhat tired a year ago. From a Northern Rhône 1995 blind tasting. 17/20 (March 2003)

André Perret St Joseph Les Grisières 1995: This wine, despite its age, has a deep and earthy red hue. Some surprising power on he nose, with sweet fruit, black pepper and some sweet oak. Lots of flavour on the palate, with big, rounded, spicy fruit. Supple tannins and good acidity, although a lack of texture detracts from the overall experience. Although there is still good fruit the fading texture suggests that this wine should be drunk up. 16.5/20 (March 2002)