Winemaker Notes
"I really think Viognier has a great point of difference in that it combines all the good features of other Australian white wines. For example, it has good palate weight like Chardonnay or Semillon, a great acid structure like Riesling, lifted aromatics like Sauvignon Blanc. I was smitten with this varietal quite some time ago. It started when I was at Yalumba, where I saw the steady rise of quality of this alluring variety under the guidance of a couple of the best winemakers in the country. Then, spending time in the Northern Rhone Valley further convinced me of its suitability to the cooler regions of this country." - Tim Smith
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Bright peach and peach-custard aromas with lightly floral apricot, too. The palate has a really smooth, mellow texture and carries ripe stone-fruit flavors in a soft, low-acidity mode. Nice edge of grip here.
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.
Higher in elevation and topographically more dramatic than the Barossa Valley floor, Eden Valley abuts it to its south and east. While it is a bit of an extension of Barossa, Eden Valley is topographically different than the pastoral Barossa Valley, and is composed of rocky hills and eucalyptus groves.
Recognizing Eden Valley’s potential with Riesling in the 1960s and 70s, producers started to move their Riesling production from Barossa to these better sites where schist soils on hilltops would produce more steely, tart and age-worthy examples. A most famous site, planted by Colin Gramp, called Steingarten, today produces one of the most outstanding Australian Rieslings. Youthful Eden Valley Rieslings express floral, grapefruit and mineral, while with time in the bottle, they become increasingly toasty and complex.
Riesling isn’t the only grape the region can grow; undeniably at lower altitudes Shiraz does very well. Mount Edelstone is a notable vineyard as well as the Hill of Grace, which boasts healthy Shiraz vines well over 100 years old. This is the only Australian region where Merlot has a made a name for itself and Chardonnay can be spectacular, particularly from the High Eden subregion in the southern valley.