any good california viogniers?

[halloweencat]

hallo --

can anyone recommend any good california (or french) viogniers?

thanks and cheers --

[Sneakeater]

I can't speak to makers, but Condrieau (a region in the Rhone) produces what is to me one of the great whites in the world. Frankly, just about ALL the ones I've had have been good-to-great.

Edited January 26, 2007 by Sneakeater (log)

[SBonner]

Fetzer's Bonterra organic Viognier is superb value if you like the rich nw style with lots of creamy malo notes.

Stephen Bonner

Vancouver

[russ parsons]

i'll second the bonterra recommendation (though i'm not sure creamy would be the descriptor i'd choose ... the thing that makes it work for me is a really firm acidic structure). i think there are a couple good viogniers in the mendo area. jepson makes a good one.

[Sneakeater]

What's interesting about the (excellent) Bonterra is how completely different it is from a Condrieau. To me bigger than the difference between a white Burgundy and a typical California chardonnay.

Edited January 26, 2007 by Sneakeater (log)

[russ parsons]

i'd go along with that. the only obvious similarity is in texture (and i'm speaking mainly of the mendo viogniers now ... on the central coast, i find the resemblance closer). there is a kind of "oily" texture to viognier that shows up in both places. but condrieu smells like ripe tropical fruit, california smells more like pear syrup or something like that.

[wkl]

for french, try any condrieu by georges vernay.

Edited January 27, 2007 by wkl (log)

[Brad Ballinger]

For Condrieu. . . From least expensive to most expensive (although these producers have several Condrieu wines each) Pierre Gaillard, Francois Villard, and Yves Cuilleron. As much as I hate to say it (and for as much grief as I may get for doing so), I cannot recommend any California Viognier I've had -- and I've had plenty.

[dockhl]

i'd go along with that. the only obvious similarity is in texture (and i'm speaking mainly of the mendo viogniers now ... on the central coast, i find the resemblance closer). there is a kind of "oily" texture to viognier that shows up in both places. but condrieu smells like ripe tropical fruit, california smells more like pear syrup or something like that.

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russ~

do you have a central cost rec?

Kahty

[russ parsons]

the two i've liked the most from the santa barbara area have been cold heaven and melville. that said, i find them in general a lot more fruit-cocktail-y and less well-structured than the mendo viogniers. alban makes a good one a little further north (slo). he also makes a killer roussane.

[artisanbaker]

alban is good-very cali and full blown but respectable

i'd skip kongsgaard (terribly over oaked; too bad-the fruit is top)

haven't tried peay but judging from the roussanne i'd take the risk and buy

[Busboy]

Clos de Chenes from Condrieu.

Hortn, from Virgina, USA.

[twodogs]

Try Pride Mountain Vineyards and if you can find it they make a late harvest viogner as well.

[fyfas]

Two more American viogniers that are personal favorites:

- Calera Mt. Harlan; California (about $35)

- Harlequin (Clifton Vineyard) Columbia Valley; Washington state (about $25)

[Craig Camp]

Dover Canyon

[oneidaone]

Cold Heaven! We love this wine! a hui hou!

[Carolyn Tillie]

Copain is a favorite of mine -- but it is one of those "waiting list wines" so actually finding it might be problematic.

[Brad Ballinger]

Okay, I'm going to challenge myself on not being able to recommend at least one California Viognier. Below are some notes of mine (larger thread here) when I gathered some Twin Cities locals to taste some California "Rhones" Mary Baker (aka Rebel Rose) of Dover Canyon sent to me. I think Mary was trying to get me to see the light regarding California Viognier. I saw a glimmer.

2002 Alban Vineyards Viognier, Central Coast. This wine was the consensus favorite, regardless of Steven Tanzer’s 86-point rating. This is the first wine that has shown some floral on the nose (other than the Champagne). Beautiful honeysuckle, peach, and citrus. Pretty seamless from attack to finish. Creamy texture than features oranges, peaches, flowers, and a hint of spice. As it warms, it loses some lift and becomes flatter. A tiny bit hot on the finish, but that resolves itself when paired with food.

2003 Dover Canyon Viognier, Hansen Vineyard, Paso Robles. This was my second or third favorite still wine of the evening. One or two others thought similarly. Jim didn’t like it at all. Lighter in color than the Fralich, and more muted on the nose. Thankfully, nothing veggie-like whatsoever. Light citrus and stone fruit aromas, but also a whiff of alcohol on the nose. In the mouth, this wine shows much more balance than the Fralich – focusing on fruit and spice rather than oak. There is a bigger alcohol burn on the finish, though. Eating food with the wine helps control the burn on the finish, but it never fully goes away.

2002 Dover Canyon Viognier, Fralich Vineyard, Paso Robles. Strange nose that some of us found off-putting with notes of bell pepper and squash. But aromas of orange oil and peach still came through. The attack was oily and the wine felt heavy in the mouth, as if weighed down by mouth-coating oak. The finish was all peach juice at first, giving way to an alcoholic burn. It’s a big and oaky wine. Warmth helped bring more of the fruit and less of the vegetables out on the nose, but it also showcased the oak more on the nose and in the mouth.

2002 Changala Viognier, Santa Barbara County. Lee’s first impression on the nose was canned tuna fish. I didn’t get it. I could struggle to get the can but not the tuna fish. My impression of the nose is that this is a viognier that wants to be a chardonnay. There’s a large vanilla component. According to the winery’s tech sheet, the wine was fermented 50% in stainless steel and 50% in neutral oak. All of us commented on the oak in this wine. The flavor profile was a combination of orange rind and white peaches in between the oak attack and oak finish. We all thought the wine showed some nice acidity, which helped keep the oak from dominating even more.

2002 Tablas Creek Vin de Tablas Blanc, Paso Robles. 36% viognier, 30% marsanne, 26% grenache blanc, 8% roussanne. Tarragon herb on the nose along with white pepper and melon. Thick and oily in its structure, low amount of acid play. A bit of vegetation that mars the melon, citrus, and stone fruits.

2001 Sine Qua Non Albino. California. 46% chardonnay, 40% roussanne, 14% viognier. Overwhelming oak on the nose. Even more on the palate. Can’t get past it. I take everything back I said about the oakiness in the earlier wines. This wine is the poster child for over-oaked white wine.

[Marc Olson]

Vionier in the Northern Rhone ranges from Condrieu (several styles, including a dessert from Guigal called La Dorianne). My favorite viongnier is from Chateau Grillet: http://www.terroir-france.com/region/rhone_grillet.htm

[Dana]

Here's one from Texas: http://www.beckervineyards.com/tastelist.htm scroll down a bit for info.

I got a lot of coconut as well. It wasn't a big hit with a couple of friends of mine, but I liked it.

Edited January 29, 2007 by Dana (log)

[Carolyn Tillie]

2002 Tablas Creek Vin de Tablas Blanc, Paso Robles. 36% viognier, 30% marsanne, 26% grenache blanc, 8% roussanne. Tarragon herb on the nose along with white pepper and melon. Thick and oily in its structure, low amount of acid play. A bit of vegetation that mars the melon, citrus, and stone fruits.

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I Love this wine!

[artisanbaker]

the pride viognier late harvest is called "mistelle" and it is remarkable. it tastes like abricot and is not cloying at all. highly recommended.

[primowino]

If i'm allowed to move away from France and CA, one of the best value Viogniers I've had (several times) is Yalumba "Y" series from Australia. it is about £8 in the UK and shows all the right characteristics for viognier without the slightly bitter aftertaste that some can have.

[Sneakeater]

Slightly OT, but I think Yalumba consistently makes some of the best reasonably-priced wines around. Their shiraz-viogner blend is excellent for the price.

[dvs]

Miner Family makes a great one

YUM!