2023 Domaine de Chateaumar Cuvee Amandine, France, VdP, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

I really enjoy their Cuvee Vincent Cotes du Rhone red wine but this was not at that level.  Still, for an inexpensive white, it would be a nice wine for a party.  It is 95% viognier with 5% Grenache Blanc.  Light golden in color with a touch of green.  The nose is flat with little or no floral notes which is what I hoped for.  Maybe a touch of baked peach.  Medium bodied.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, a touch of minerality.   Moderate finish.  Drink now.  

2022 Alban Vineyards Viognier Sarments, USA, California, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

I wish I knew more about this wine.  I loved it!  Alban makes (not counting this), two different Viogniers.  They make and estate Viognier and a Central Coast Viognier.  Both are labeled as Viognier.  This one is neither of those two.  It carries the additional labelling as Sarments.  The word means cutting or scion, so I assume these vines were propagated from other vines somewhere...  Anyway, I like the Alban Estate Viognier but don't love it.  I prefer Viognier more like a Condrieu which is a region making Viognier in the Rhone Valley in France.  I would like to say the difference is in

2022 Sans Liege Cotes du Coast, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a white blend using Rhone varietals and made in Tin City, Paso Robles, California.  It is a blend of 48% Viognier, 19% Marsanne, 13% Roussanne, 11% Grenache Blanc and 9% Clairette.  My first time trying this wine and producer and it is delightful.  Light golden in color with some green hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has a whiff of fruit but then is dominated by wax, sea air and spice.  With air a bit more pineapple emerges.  Lovely slightly oily texture.  Drying tannins.  On the palate, more pineapple with some lime notes on the finish.  13.7%abv.  It is so hard to say how this

2020 Domaine de Couron Viognier Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is a nice wine.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  It has a very pretty nose.  Peaches with a floral note.  Slightly viscous texture.  On the palate, nice acidity.  Peach fruit notes.  Good finish.  This is refreshing and an excellent value.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would be nice with lighter foods such as fresh seafood.  

2018 Xavier Gerard Condrieu Côte Chatillon, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$61.00USD

Very nice expression of a northern Rhone Viognier.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is perfumed with floral notes as well as peach, slight hay, and slight golden raisin.  Full bodied.  Viscous, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, some waxiness with some pear, slight orange and just a hint of floral notes.  Good acidity.  Dry.  Long finish.  This probably should be drunk in the next few years to enjoy the freshness.  Nice on its own, this would work well with lighter foods but would be nice s well with lobster.  

2019 E. Guigal Condrieu, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is the basic Condrieu (they also make a higher end called La Doriane).  It is made from 100% Viognier grapes.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with floral qualities along with some vanilla and spice.  With air, apricots emerge along with a bit of peach.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the apricots and spice come thru.  A bit of a bitter ginger note on the finish.  This needs a bit of cellaring, maybe two or three years, and then should drink well for five to eight more years.  Very nice on its own, this will work better with food.  Shellfish would be a nice

2017 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambée, USA, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is a bigger version of Condrieu than the more floral versions.  It sees 9 months of French Oak sitting on its lees.  100% Viognier.  The nose has vanilla, citrus and lemon verbena.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  Slight almond notes.  Moderate acidity.  Nice finish.  Does bigger equate to more serious?  Not necessarily, but this is drinking quite well at age 5 and should continue to drink well for another five to eight years.  This will work well with Foie Gras for those who eat that but also pasta prima vera.  

2020 Bien Nacido Estate Viognier Viognier - Santa Maria Valley, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Honestly, I love Viognier from the Rhone Valley, but less so the full throttle Viogniers from California (usually with high alcohol).  Despite that disclaimer, I really enjoyed this.  Unique and different as it is.  Golden in color with green swirls.  The nose has green apples, slight floral notes and just a hint of peach.  Nice acidity.  Oily texture.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, the apples are present with a light minerality.  Long finish.  This drinks easy on its own and will work with some lighter foods.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2019 Badenhorst Family Wines The Curator White Blend, South Africa, Swartland, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

Made from Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier, this is a very nice value in white wines.  It retails around $10 and did very well in our tasting of South African White wines.  Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples and some wax.  On the palate, this has a soft but plush texture.  Apples and some pink grapefruit.  Refreshing.  Moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with curries.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah T Block Hudson Vineyard, USA, California, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This took a while to come around, but it is finally showing the promise it showed on release.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, a touch of black olives and sandalwood.  Full bodied.  Lovely acidity.  On the palate, great black raspberry fruit with underlying earthiness.  Concentrated fruit that unwinds in the glass.  Nice finish.  This appears to be at or close to prime and should continue to  drink well for 8 to ten more years.  A nice wine on its own and will work well with roasted meats, fowl or veggies.  

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