FRANCE: White Rhône
2016 Gold: 1 Silver: 3 Bronze: 0 Commended: 2
2015 Gold: 3 Silver: 5 Bronze: 0 Commended: 3
A small category, but always a hugely popular one – and there were some interesting medal winners here across the price points. It will definitely be interesting to see how this region fares when the warmer, riper, more intense 2015s hit the market.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘I like this style of wine a lot. They are great with things like crab – richer foods with butter.’ Giacomo Dragoni, Galvin La Chapelle
‘Customers might ask for Viognier rather than white Rhône, but the serious customers do look for Condrieu. At these kind of prices – over £100 on a list – you need to have time to spend with the guests who order it.’ Maurizio Palomba, Sushi Samba
‘We get people looking for oaky styles of Chardonnay – Californian or Burgundian – and these top-end wines are a good alternative to that. They give you a perfume that you don’t get with Chardonnay. I’d be confident of selling them to someone looking for that oaky style.’ Harry Crowther, M Restaurants