Tag Archives: viognier

Ixsir Altitudes Blanc 2021, Batroun, Lebanon

20 Tuesday Dec 2022

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Having just visited this winery where I tasted the 2022 from the still unbottled vats I had to bring home a bottle to share with Moxie.  It shows a beautiful medium straw-lemon color in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of lemon, grapefruit, lychee, pineapple, white flower, a hint of vanilla bean and perhaps some bread.  The palate is dry and a touch bitter with grapefruit pith, lemon, rose, lychee, pineapple and a floral note making it quite a complex array of delicious flavors.  Medium acidity and a medium to full body take me to a finish that lasts a good 20 seconds and delves into the citrus and pith world.  It’s very floral and fruity with just the right amount of cut to make it a pleasing aperitif wine that I would pair with chicken and dare I say- spicy foods.  So glad this bottle survived my extensive travels from Beirut to the UK and finally home, well worth the effort.  A blend of Obeideh, Muscat and Viognier it can be found for $18 and gets 90 points from me making it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Drinking from the vat

 

Franc Dusak Moon Mountain Viognier 2021, Sonoma County, California

04 Tuesday Oct 2022

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Pale straw colored with thick legs (13.5%ABV).  The nose has pronounced aromas of lemon curd, honeysuckle, white flower blossom, dill, fleur de sel and stone fruit.  The palate is barely dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Really nice flavors of citrus and florals with a wax and honey note alongside some briny minerality that makes this a delicious wine.  It ends with a mid length finish that is lush and waxy.  Yum.  This 91 pointer sells for $16 and gets 5 stars from me.  I’m pairing it with steamed mussels and garlic, you could try grilled mackerel or salmon.  Drink till 2023.  Salut….

Remi Niero Condrieu Chery 2019, Rhone, France

17 Sunday Jul 2022

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The 28th episode of our virtual wine tasting group kicked off last night with this Viognier from the Northern Rhone appellation of Condrieu.  We tasted it at room temp first, followed by a chilled version.  Medium straw colored this 15% ABV wine had a beautiful sheen to it in the glass.  The nose was interesting- honeysuckle, pineapple, apricot, pear, nutmeg, honeycomb and a burnt smell plus the sensation it was going to be waxy.  On the palate it was dry with low acidity.  I noted it was very smooth, others remarked that it was waxy.  Full bodied the main fruit note we got was a lingering apricot note and some buttery components.  The finish was long.  I gave it 18 points on our grading scale.

The chilled version had aromas of brioche, citrus, honeydew and pear.  The palate was waxy and we got a bitter citrus pith note alongside apricot , pineapple, butter and brioche.  The finish seemed a bit shorter in length for some reason.  It thought I was going to prefer the chilled version, but alas- 15 points did not tilt me.  Once again the room temperature version of a white wine was the preferred serving for the majority.

Overall I liked this wine and would give it 92 points but at $50, it’s only a 4 star wine IMO.  We discussed pairings- white fish with perhaps a cream sauce would work well.  Drink now.  Salut….

Boschendal Reserve Collection Vin d’Or 2016, Paarl, South Africa

02 Saturday Apr 2022

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I’m on a sweet wine roll, two in one day.  This South African blend of Riesling/Viognier is a stunning deep gold color.  The nose is right up my alley- rich aromas of dried apricot, honey, blood orange marmalade, candied pineapple, peach and a touch of lychee.  Amazing, complex and very enticing.  The palate is very sweet, unctuous and full bodied.  Medium (+) acidity keeps this wine very balanced and I love the pronounced flavors.  The honey component is taking center stage but I also get lively fresh fruit even though the Botrytis driven flavors are very present.  At 163g/l of residual sugar, this is considered a luscious wine- and it is just that!  At $20 for 375ml, it is a great dessert wine to have a few bottles of.  93 points from me for this 5 star wine to serve with a warm tart and ice cream.  Salut….

San Antonio Winery San Simeon Viognier 2018, Paso Robles, California

22 Sunday Nov 2020

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At the 12th virtual wine tasting we drank this Viognier at room temp first and then chilled. As usual there is a marked difference in both smell and taste, but this time I preferred the chilled version- it seemed more focused on fewer key flavors, the warm version was all over the place. Here are some of the notes I recorded from the group.

Pale gold, straw or even Goldenrod in the glass. The nose has a sweetness to it with orange, honey, apricot, pear and floral notes. On the palate we got apricots, orange rind, bakers spices, ‘Icewine’ and a yeasty/bready flavor. The chilled version had melon, pineapple and that bread component on the nose. The palate was softer and smoother with tangerine, honeysuckle and gingerbread with good acidity. One of the tasters remarked that it tasted like good Riesling. Overall it scored decently and I would give it 90 points. Drink till 2022. For $17, it’s a nice intro to the varietal and gets 4 stars from me. Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 676 White Blend 2016, Santa Barbara, California

02 Monday Mar 2020

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Very golden in the glass, beautiful and rich.  On the nose I get peach stone, yellow apple, melon.  On the palate it’s quite different- I still get peach stone, but the focus is more pineapple, honeydew, lanolin.  The mouthfeel is quite full, a nice level of acidity and some glycerin.  The mid palate shows off stone fruit and a touch of sour apple.  The finish is medium length and continues the theme nicely.  This is a good blend of Roussane, Viognier and Marsanne that I would serve with caeser salad, smoked salmon or grilled chicken.  89 points, $14 and 4 stars.  Salut….

Barboursville Vineyards Reserve Viognier 2017, Virginia, USA

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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Very pale yellow in the glass, I was expecting a more honeyed glint.  On the nose it’s very refreshing with a peach hint, some beeswax and papaya.  I’m excited!  On the palate it is super delicious- crisp, clean with just a hint of acidity let the flavors of peach stone, nectarine and pink grapefruit really shine.  The mid palate allows the gentle acidity some room to refresh the palate.  The finish is medium in length with a great mouthfeel that balances freshness with a touch of flab that just tastes and feels right.  This is a rather nice bottle- Virginia really does great Viognier and Barboursville perfects it.  91 points and 5 stars for this $22 charmer.  Drink till 2027 with grilled fish, chicken kebabs or raw clams.  Salut…. 

Henschke Henry’s Seven 2015, Barossa, Australia

27 Tuesday Feb 2018

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Somewhat opaque but dark purple.  The nose gives up candies, plum, oak, cherry pie, vanilla bean.  The palate is super spicy, loaded with fruit and very smooth.  Plum ganache, mocha, cafe au lait and blackberry preserve round out the initial palate.  The transition to mid palate shows off some very integrated tannins, a red berry note and some cedar plank.  The finish is mid length and coats the mouth in plum sauce, coffee and chocolate dust.  92 points from me for this $32 effort, which contradicts the pro’s 89, oh well.  I liked it and will buy again for a juicy Sunday roast companion.  5 stars for this Shiraz/Grenache/Viognier blend.  Salut….

Yalumba Triangle Block Shiraz – Viognier 2013, Eden Valley, Australia

15 Friday Dec 2017

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Wow, this is one bright purple wine, it almost looks like Ribena.  The nose offers up gorgeous aromas of black cherry, blackberry, a hint of oak and some figs.  On the palate it is very smooth with blackberry notes, a sour cherry kicker, some tobacco and smoke.  The wine reminds me of Lapsang Souchong tea- smoky and earthy yet somehow mild and alluring.  An acquired taste for sure.  The wine have very integrated tannins and relatively low acidity.  I would drink now till 2020 and pair with lighter fare.  It begs for Moussaka, roast chicken or even a thick Reuben sandwich.  90 points and 4 stars for this $22 effort.  Salut….

Clayhouse Adobe White 2011, Central Coast, USA

27 Tuesday Jun 2017

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I don’t exactly recall buying this wine, but I think it was a last minute grab at the wine store.  It looked interesting with its blend of 49% Viognier, 26% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Grenache Blanc and 6% Princess (Never heard of her).

A golden yellow color in the glass.  The nose is what I was expecting, very similar to Conundrum White, another blend of similar grapes.  Melon, grapefruit, and a touch of lemon are the key components.  On the palate I am tasting raw almond, citrus and kiwi fruit.  The acidity is very mild and the wine has a nice mouthfeel.  There is a certain butteriness that hits on  the mid palate.  The finish is rather short, but leaves a trail of acidity that carries on for a while.  I am really enjoying this wine, it was made for sipping, summer and cold cuts with an olive tray.  I will go 88 points on this $15 wine which makes it a 3 star wine in my books.  Drink now till 2019.  Salut….

playhouse wines adobe white