Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier 2018
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Dressed in a beautiful medium golden color, characteristic of this variety, this Viognier exhibits sweet fruity aromas of apricots, citrus and peaches, combined with pleasant oak notes. Fresh and lively in mouth, this wine, with concentrated stone fruit flavors, is fresh, tasty, full and savory. Of great character, density and structure, with a good acidity level and great persistence.
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While many Viogniers from warm climates are high in alcohol, this version—a product of Chile’s mild and sunny days, cool nights, and foggy mornings—is only 13.6% ABV. Rounded out by butterscotch-dipped apricot, a burst of lemon verbena and chamomile makes for an intense fragrance. The palate possesses a citrusy buoyancy that ranges from lemon tart to a zesty note of tangerine peel.
Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1993, with the vision of producing premium, expressive and innovative wines that convey the spirit of the New World.
Firmly grounded in the spirit of New World winemaking, our name refers to the company’s geographic position, representing wines proudly made in South America’s Southern Cone, on whose western edge lies Chile and its gifted wine valleys. The logo also evokes a freehand drawing of the silhouette of South America.
Right from the start, Cono Sur applied new ideas and technology to traditional winemaking methods. The main goal, therefore, is to create expressive and innovative wines, applying sustainable practices with a special care of the environment making each sip is a masterpiece.
Full-figured and charmingly floral, Viognier is one of the most important white grapes of the northern Rhône where it is used both to produce single varietal wines and as an important blending grape. Look for great New World examples from California, Oregon, Washington and cooler parts of Australia. Somm Secret—Viognier plays a surprisingly important role in the red wines of Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône. About 5% Viognier is typically co-fermented with the Syrah in order to stabilize the color, and as an added benefit, add a subtle perfume.
Dramatic geographic and climatic changes from west to east make Chile an exciting frontier for wines of all styles. Chile’s entire western border is Pacific coastline, its center is composed of warm valleys and on its eastern border, are the soaring Andes Mountains.
Chile’s central valleys, sheltered by the costal ranges, and in some parts climbing the eastern slopes of the Andes, remain relatively warm and dry. The conditions are ideal for producing concentrated, full-bodied, aromatic reds rich in black and red fruits. The eponymous Aconcagua Valley—hot and dry—is home to intense red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.
The Maipo, Rapel, Curicó and Maule Valleys specialize in Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends as well as Carmenère, Chile’s unofficial signature grape.
Chilly breezes from the Antarctic Humboldt Current allow the coastal regions of Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley to focus on the cool climate loving varieties, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chile’s Coquimbo region in the far north, containing the Elqui and Limari Valleys, historically focused solely on Pisco production. But here the minimal rainfall, intense sunlight and chilly ocean breezes allow success with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The up-and-coming southern regions of Bio Bio and Itata in the south make excellent Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Spanish settlers, Juan Jufre and Diego Garcia de Cáceres, most likely brought Vitis vinifera (Europe’s wine producing vine species) to the Central Valley of Chile sometime in the 1550s. One fun fact about Chile is that its natural geographical borders have allowed it to avoid phylloxera and as a result, vines are often planted on their own rootstock rather than grafted.