New World Viognier

I had a great New World Viognier that got me thinking the other day. Viognier is a grape that I often detest... Don't get me wrong there are some very good wines made from it, but too many, especially from the New World just smell like perfume and remind me of canned peaches... But over the past year or so I've had a few Viogniers that are making me question that.

Specifically on Friday I had a 2011 K Vintners Viognier. It had a expressive nose, but was also somehow delicate. It was Peach, Honeysuckle and very floral, but balanced enough I found it delicious. I had a 2015 Dumol Viognier last year that was also just delicious.

Any other great examples out there I should hunt down? Looking more New World, I like Condrieu, but don't like paying for them...

Thank you,

[David M. Bueker]

Horton (Virginia) has been doing good things lately.

I had a great New World Viognier that got me thinking the other day. Viognier is a grape that I often detest... Don't get me wrong there are some very good wines made from it, but too many, especially from the New World just smell like perfume and remind me of canned peaches... But over the past year or so I've had a few Viogniers that are making me question that.
Specifically on Friday I had a 2011 K Vintners Viognier. It had a expressive nose, but was also somehow delicate. It was Peach, Honeysuckle and very floral, but balanced enough I found it delicious. I had a 2015 Dumol Viognier last year that was also just delicious.
Any other great examples out there I should hunt down? Looking more New World, I like Condrieu, but don't like paying for them...
Thank you,

Yup, Kasey...sometimes the Calif Viogs are a bit too DollyParton in style to my tastes as well. And they don't often have that minerality that makes Condrieu so great.
There are some Viog coming from the CollinesRhodannies north of CoteRotie that are quite similar and a much cheaper (not always, though) price.
From Calif, the Failla AlbanVnyd Viog used to be my favorite. But Ehren soesn't get those grapes anymore. I also like the TablasCreek and Qupe Viogs quite a lot. And also the Drew Viog...but it's difficult to get.
And you might try some Calif Roussannes and GrenacheBlanc that are rather similar to Viog. The Qupe Roussannes are one of my favorites...a bit closer to HermitageBlanc though. And the TablasCreek GB & Rouss are quite good. And the EdmundsStJohn Heart of Gold Rhone white blend is quite good. None of those stray into DollyParton territory.
Tom

Thank you, I will have to hunt some of them down. I had a few bottles of Qupé Roussanne Hillside Estate Bien Nacido Vineyard delivered recently but haven't tried it yet. Bottles from Virginia can be hard to find where I live, but if I ever see one I'll grab it!

Thank you, I will have to hunt some of them down. I had a few bottles of Qupé Roussanne Hillside Estate Bien Nacido Vineyard delivered recently but haven't tried it yet. Bottles from Virginia can be hard to find where I live, but if I ever see one I'll grab it!

Kasey,
The Qupe Hillside Rouss is serious Roussanne and ages very/very well. It shows a bit of the minerality that makes Condrieu so great.
Tom

[Jenise]

Kasey, I am so in agreement. As I told some winemakers in Walla Walla last weekend, "Don't be offended if I don't like this, but to me viogniers smell like dead old ladies. Cheap perfume, lavendar sachets, Kleenex--it's all in there." This was an opinion formed while living in California which is really too warm for that grape.

Yet I've honestly had some WA state viogniers that are causing me to back off that. A'Maurice is at the head of that pack. I also liked one from Structure Cellars recently. And of all things I've had some good and inexpensive ones from Australia, the Yalumba frequently seen at Costco for around $10 is always good.