Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Shiraz-Viognier 2006 It’s very neat how you get the ripeness of Shiraz, the black fruits that we love, with the cooler climate marker of black pepper, all in one bottle. This is a great walk down the middle of Syrah/Shiraz paradigms. In the mouth it is soft and ripe with a nice [...]

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d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Hermit Crab 2008 The nose features a combo of the herbaceousness that we can find with Marsanne and the overt peaches that we often see with Viognier. The mouth shows us an oily richness overtop of peaches – thick and mouthfilling. This vintage is composed of 72% Viognier and 28% Marsanne. Grown, vinified [...]

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We visited with Joe Lange at the winery during the summer and he took us through their most state-of-the-art facility. We learned about the tremendous commitment the Lange family has made to sustainability.  And on top of that, they’re making some awesome wines like the one described below. Full disclosure – Joe and I both [...]

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Domaine de Triennes, Vin de Pays du Var, Sainte Fleur, Viognier 2007 This wine sings the Viognier song as if from the New World. The nose features fresh flowers and fruits and quite a perfume. In the mouth this freshness carries through with a component we cherish so much in the wines of the Old [...]

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Graff Family Vineyards, Chalone, Viognier 2007 Smelling the glass is like getting close to a bottle of perfume – very pretty and enticing. There’s loads of peaches in this wine with a sense of acidity in the background making this a bit fresher and more lively than some of the richer incarnations of this grape [...]

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Sobon Estate, Amador County, Viognier 2008 The tropical notes are such that this wine reminds me of the banana popsicles that I enjoyed as a boy. There’s also a layer of richness as well, making this wine slippery smooth. Besides the Viognier there’s a bit of Grenache Blanc, just 4%. The wine was aged sur [...]

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Zaca Mesa, Santa Ynez Valley, Estate Grown and Bottled, Viognier 2008 This wine is very peachy and sweet appearing, slippery and rich. Fermentation began in stainless and then the wine spent 3 mos in neutral fr oak; malolactic was avoided. Clay Brock Winemaker, GP&B in Los Olivos 14.5% $16.49 at Bottle Barn Zaca Mesa Winery

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Cline, Los Carneros, Viognier 2007 This is beautifully aromatic, very floral and clean. In the mouth there is a fatness to the feel, lowish in acidity with the taste of peaches and a bit of the bitterness that you might get from a bite of the stone inside. Estate grown & bottled in Sonoma 14.5% [...]

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Copain, Mendocino County, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Viognier 2007
It’s a pleasure to find a tasty Viognier under 14% and this one delivers with the classic peaches and flowers – fresh and delicious. P&B in Healdsburg 13.7% $17.99 at Traverso’s Copain Wines

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This flight provides an interesting contrast in California Viognier. Both are well-made but different animals entirely. The Preston is lighter, fresher, with aromatics that might remind one of a dry California Gewurztraminer. The Cold Heaven is rich, thick and buttery, with a palate that might remind one of a rich version of California Chardonnay.
Preston, Dry [...]

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Michel & Stéphane Ogier, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes, Vigonier de Rosine 2006 You would swear this wine is from the New World when you stick your nose in the glass. The peachy fruit is just so vibrant. In the mouth, this wine is full-bodied and luscious, lowish in acidity and brimming with the [...]

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M. Chapoutier, Vin de Table de France, Doux, Les Coufis de Paille de l’Ardeche 2001 This wine is deeply golden, picking up hues of amber and a touch of khaki. The nose is a complex mix of orange and spice, reminiscent of flaming oranges studded with cloves at a tableside performance in a restaurant of [...]

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The Rhone Rangers hosted a seminar yesterday featuring wines that pay homage to the grapes made famous in France’s Rhone Valley. The seminar was not bound by geography; there were wines from both sides of the Atlantic. The seminar was also not bound by tradition as we tasted blends based on combining Syrah and Cabernet [...]

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Rosenblum Cellars, Lodi, Ripkin Ranch, Late Harvest Viognier, Lot 34 This is peaches in a glass with a thick mouthfeel, a little heat and the low acidity that often marks Viognier. The fruit was botritised and harvested at 36 brix. The final RS is 10%. P&B in Alameda 14% $14.49 for a 375ml bottle at [...]

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Zaca Mesa, Santa Ynez Valley, Estate Grown and Bottled, Viognier 2007 This wine is peaches on steroids all the way through with a rich, very viscous mouthfeel that emphasizes fruit rather than oak or butter, as is seen in some of the heavier-handed approaches to this variety. And there is no hint of the whopping [...]

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Domaine de Triennes, Vin de Pays du Var, Sainte Fleur, Viognier 2006 The ‘05 was a bit alcoholic, though that is often tolerated in Viognier. This bottle, the ‘06 has some sense of that in the mouth but more than enough vivacious fruit to offset it. The apricot and pineapple flavors go on and on. [...]

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Bonterra 73% Mendocino 27% Lake Counties Viognier 2006
This has been a consistently fresh, aromatic wine across the vintages. The flowers and peaches are in full bloom followed by a lowish-acid fresh mouthfeel. All certified organically grown grapes from a brand that has long championed organic, despite being owned by the Neanderthal Brown Forman. Winemaker Robert [...]

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Yangarra McLaren Vale Single Vineyard Roussanne 2007
Pretty floral notes with bits of herbs. The mouth is full of citrus with a light body and some refreshing acidity. V&B in McLaren Vale 13% import sample
Yangarra McLaren Vale Single Vineyard Viognier 2007
A stunning example of the exotic peaches that Viognier can convey with an oily and rich [...]

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Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2005
Aged in neutral French oak. Produced in Angaston 14.5% $12.99 at Bottle Barn Yalumba

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Verget du Sud Vin de Pays du Vaucluse Roussanne 2006 Jean-Marie Guffens’ impressive work with the grapes of Burgundy continues with grapes sourced further south, in this case from the Vaucluse, a department on the east side of the river Rhone which encompasses the great town of Avignon. In April ‘08 a bottle was off [...]

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