Although the family name Neyret-Gachet appears on the label, the property producing this wine is run by André Canet who married into the family in the early 1960's. Canet extended the vineyard's production and by 1990, under Andre Canet's supervision, Château-Grillet's three and a half hectares were producing nearly 2,000 cases annually. The consistently high prices maintained by this wine have as much to do with its rarity as its rank among top French wines. Traditionally, the grapes are picked earlier than Condrieu and, therefore, they are more austere and less headily perfumed.
Viognier: Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar 92 "Green-tinged straw. Intense mineral, floral and botanical herb notes accent orange and pear on the nose; reminds me of yellow Chartreuse. Firm and sharply focused, with spicy pear, citrus, licorice and succulent herb flavors. Finishes with an oily sensation of concentration and impressive length. This improves with aeration and, as Mme. Baratin notes, "should be served at the same temperature as a red wine."
