Viognier??

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote:\

Sure. Condrieu.

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Well. why not get Chateau Grillet, the most famous Viognier of all? Will set you back about 50 to 80 USD a bottle... A region of its own the yearly production is 10.000 bottles, the smallest 'appellation' in France. Anders

Calera! (From Mount Harlan. Just inland of Monterey.) For drinking now, I would go with the 2002. Drinks like a fine white burg. Elegant.

Someone is often quoted about Viognier that it's usually either Julia Roberts or Dolly Parton. That is, more acidic and bright or very voluptuous.

Garretson makes good viognier:

I also like viognier from Cedarville and Arger-Martucci. My favorite is Sierra Vista. I like EXP, too, but I have a hard time finding it. Tablas Creek makes some wonderful wines blending Viognier with Marsanne and Rousanne.

It seems that you are sampling US Viogniers, so I will assume that you are in US. You might want to go shopping for two domestic (US) producers: Gregroy Graham Napa Vigonier, and Joseph Phelps Viognier (though in Napa, I cannot recall where his Viognier comes from). Neither is produced in great quantity, but I find both excellent.

Obviously, as stated elsewhere, Condrieu is probably the benchmark for Viognier, and most of those imported to the US (also small quantities) are worth the $.

Hunt

Thanks!

Actually thanks to all of you! I also must mention "Christopher Creek" Viognier, small winery, somewhat pricey ($25) but oh SO good!

I stayed out of this discussion till now, as I'm just not a Viognier fan. Sure, I MIGHT buy Cuilleron or Gerin Condrieus if they were priced about half what they are ( I might buy Ch. Grillet if I saw at $5) , but the varietal just doesn't sing for me. But I'm surprised by comments of Guigal's base Condrieu being oaky, I've always assumed it was all old foudres or stainless. Not great, but varietally correct. Unfortunately, the only note I can find is on a bottle consumed at age

12!:

1992 Guigal Condrieu Floral as expected, apricot/peach fruit seems just a little flat. Certainly hanging on while one might think it should be dead, but doesn't change my general feeling that I like Viognier young. To be fair, it actually seemed to put on a little weight/life in the glass.

I did actually like an oaky Guigal Condrieu:

2001 Guigal La Doriane Condrieu I'm really prepared to not like an oaky Condrieu, but this is nice. Sure, oak stands out a little, but good acidity for a Viogner helps a lot, and it's a nice floral/vanilla sip with some cheeses. B+

If I had to buy a Condrieu, I'd probably go for RH Philips EXP or Garretson.

PS as a followup to post to Mark, I'd add that the last year I'd look for any Condrieu would be 2003- the grape verges on flabby in most years, god knows it is a candidate for a spa in 2003!

If bessiejunejoad likes New World Viognier, Whole Foods is pushing Yalumbia Viognier as one of their Top Ten this season. It's quite reasonable (USD $10.00) and was interesting to compare to some US stuff at a tasting friends had last month ("Value Viogniers").

Hello Dale; No the 2003 is oaked, according to the Systembolaget with notes of "toasted oak barrel" on the palate, and oak on the nose. Mercilessly beaten to death with a bag of oak chips, says I. And that at USD 42.

Cheers

Nils Gustaf

I have had the Yalumba and it is very nice, quite acceptable! Another one in the same price range is Cline Cellars Viognier, but that may only be available locally!

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Dale; I read about it in the Systembolaget catalogue where it was pointed out the barrel character in the nose and the "toasted oak barrels" on the palate. Toasted oak chips, if you ask me. And at SEK 329! That is about USD

1. Vintage was 2003, and the reason for liberal oaking is obvious - hide what is missing in a flabby vintage. Cheers! Nils Gustaf