Lost Treasure

I was re-arranging and re-cataloging the wines yesterday morning and tucked back in a corner was a wine that wasn't on the latest inventory.  I can't believe this one slipped through the cracks but I'm glad it did.

The wine is a 2006 Condrieu Les Terrasses de l'Empire from Georges Vernay.  It had five years bottle age on it so I decided not to wait any longer and opened it for dinner with some grilled swordfish marinated in olive oil, garlic, rosemary, lemon zest, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. 

The wine was a medium gold in the glass but still smelling of honeysuckle vines, pineapple, lychee and earth.  Rich, luxurious wine to sip with flavors of pineapple, very ripe peach, a little cantaloupe.  A full bodied wine that sat on that edge between sweet and dry.  A long rich finish was balanced by acidity that turned into a dry, mineral end.   Good match with the swordfish but if the wine as any richer it might have need a different meal. 

The last glass was sipped slowly over the evening and the wine mellowed further and the aromas just grew into a complete bouquet of flowers. 

2006 Georges Vernay Condrieu Les Terrasses de l'Empire.  14% alcohol and a $60 sticker on the bottle.