Winemaker Notes
A vivacious early drinking wine — thoroughly enjoyed now with seared scallops and Chinese broccoli or cold duck and lychee salad.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The plump, medium-bodied 2017 Viognier makes a good contrast to Tahbilk's racy Marsanne. Floral notes and apricot fruit mark the nose, while the palate artfully balances weight, richness and acidity. Those distinct floral notes reprise on the finish, giving terrific lift and freshness. I wouldn't age this, but it offers a fun drinking experience that captures Viognier's varietal character without tipping over into oily over-ripeness.
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.
Nestled into the tip of its southeastern coastline, Victoria is Australia’s smallest mainland state, second most populous and third largest wine producer. Victoria includes the cool regions of Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong, made famous mainly by impressive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The more inland Heathcote and Bendigo lead the way for complex and textured, full-bodied reds. Rutherglen’s fortified wines compete among the best on the planet.