Condrieu Lône 2024 Julien Pilon

The Condrieu Lône 2024 from Julien Pilon is one of the most anticipated and discussed Condrieu of the appellation, a 100% Viognier of such finesse and digestibility that it radically challenges the clichés attached to this sun-drenched varietal. Its name is poetry drawn from local patois: a lône refers to these secondary water channels of the Rhône, these quiet rivulets whose origins remain obscure, neither directly linked to a river nor to the riverbed itself, an image of calm, fluidity and mystery that suits perfectly a fine, vibrant and luminous Condrieu, far from the rich and heavy versions one might fear from the varietal. The 2024 vintage, marked by cool nights that preserved acidity and tension in the grapes, confirms one of the domaine's finest recent vintages for this cuvée.

Terroir and vineyard

Condrieu Lône 2024 is a blend of four distinct terroirs within the appellation—Jeanraude, Verlieu, Peyrolland and Bassenon—including the legendary Bassenon parcel, recognised by connoisseurs as one of Condrieu's most precious sites. The vines are planted on the famous steep hillsides overlooking the commune of Condrieu, facing full south to south-east, at a high density of 9,000 vines per hectare, a deliberate choice that constrains each vine to produce less but better. The soils are granitic and sandy, particularly shallow before reaching bedrock, which naturally disciplines vine vigour and forces roots deep into the granite to draw out minerality and tension. All work in the vineyard is manual, from pruning to harvest. Vinification follows the domaine's philosophy: each parcel is harvested and vinified separately, musts are severely débourbed after pressing, alcoholic fermentation is slow and conducted at low temperature, malolactic fermentation is complete, and ageing takes place over ten months in Bordeaux barrels of 225 litres with only 10% new wood, minimal oak use that places terroir and fruit firmly in the foreground without ever masking them.

Tasting profile

The colour is pale gold with golden glints, bright and clear, showing the visual lightness characteristic of Julien Pilon's style. The nose is elegant, precise and quintessentially Viognier in its finest expression: aromas of white peach, fresh apricot and grapefruit interweave with subtle floral notes of acacia and orange blossom, with a light spiced touch and discreet granitic minerality in the background. On the palate, sapidity asserts itself immediately as signature: the wine is supple, round and generously proportioned, yet never heavy or overwhelming—precisely what lovers of Lône seek and find year after year. The texture is silky, the roundness is restrained, and the fresh, almost saline finish invites you back to the glass. Delicate bitter notes prolong the tasting with elegance and persistence, bringing that extra dimension that distinguishes great Condrieu from merely charming versions. A Viognier for those who love precision as much as generosity—to be enjoyed now in all its freshness and aromatic expression, or kept for three to five years.

The domaine

Julien Pilon is one of the most engaging and promising figures in the northern Rhône vineyard. Established in Chavanay on the right bank of the Rhône, he made his first vintages from 2010 in his parents' garage without land or cellar of his own, before gradually building a producer-négociant structure whose reputation has grown with each vintage, lauded with a star by Revue du Vin de France. Owner of a few vines in Côte Rôtie and Condrieu, he also vinifies carefully selected grapes from all the great appellations of the northern Rhône. His approach is clear: care in the ageing, individualise each parcel and vintage, respect the purity of the fruit and the finesse of the wine. Lône and Vernon, his two Condrieu, are now considered two of the appellation's most accomplished wines, pushing the bar toward Condrieu's finest with each vintage.

Food and wine pairing

This Condrieu Lône will pair beautifully with pan-seared scallops in tarragon butter, semi-cooked foie gras with citrus, grilled lobster, roasted line-caught fish with fresh herbs, wild mushroom risotto or creamed poultry. It will also find harmony with a Crottin de Chavignol aged for a short time to play with contrasts. Served between 10 and 12°C, it may also be enjoyed alone as a prestige aperitif to fully appreciate the aromatic expression and sapidity of a great Viognier grown in granite.