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Favorite American Viognier? - 3/5/2014 9:28:19 PM   
ericindc

 

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So I can't say that I've ever had any American viognier that have blown me away. I picked up some Denner, but havent tried it yet and I've had a couple "ok" Virginia viogniers.

Do you know of any that can give Condrieu a run for its money?

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 3:42:49 AM   
mtpisgah

 

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Status: offline 		I agree that it is hard to find Viognier that compares well to Condriue. However, I think the Denner is a good representation. The Pride is good, it compares ok to Condriue. I used to think Treanna compared well but the last few bottles I had did not. Pine Ridge is actually good but not a great comparison.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 3:49:57 AM   
musedir

 

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Status: offline 		I like Force Majeure's and Maison Bleue's Notre Vie Viognier.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 3:51:29 AM   
wadcorp

 

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Status: offline 		We keep a bunch of the Pine Ridge around as it has great QPR.

I can't comment on the comparison to thr Condrieu, as I haven't had that one as of yet.

Really like the Becker Viognier from the Texas hill country, but again I've a feeling we're not comparing apples to apples.

.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 5:52:58 AM   
aaronl3182

 

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From: Punta Gorda, Florida
Status: offline 		+1 for the Becker.

Although, I had the 2012 last night it was quite a bit richer than previous vintages and lacked a bit of floral character. I'll try and stick to the 2011s until the next vintage comes out.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 7:07:59 AM   
brigcampbell

 

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Status: offline 		Alban and Tercero.

Dinner is a bigger style viognier

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 7:13:41 AM   
drycab

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: brigcampbell

Alban and Tercero.

Dinner is a bigger style viognier


In my experience, Alban is a year by year thing. Some vintages just don't get it for me!


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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 7:16:37 AM   
caeleric

 

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Status: offline 		of what i have had, i have enjoyed denner and force majeure. herman story makes a blend, but it wasn't as good as those others.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 7:40:28 AM   
annerk

 

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Status: offline 		Had a Denner a few days ago and really annoyed it.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 7:43:51 AM   
gmbdds

 

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Status: offline 		Anne, I've read and enjoyed your posts and I can't imagine you annoyed that wine.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 7:46:01 AM   
ericindc

 

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Status: offline 		Well, I don't expect it to be "like" condrieu. American viognier, like pinot should be different than its european counterpart. basically, I'm asking more about what well-made viognier's are there in the US. So year, good start. I'm looking forward to trying the Denner and I may have to look up the Becker when I'm in Houston next month.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 8:32:07 AM   
ChrisinCowiche

 

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Status: offline 		I've never had a Condrieu, so recommendations on those would be appreciated as well. 

Of American ones I've had, many of the west coast seem too oily and viscous for my palate.  And when they don't have that profile, they seem to lack fruit.  Maybe that is desired/expected for some but steely and minerally is not something I enjoy that much unless there is fruit too.  One I've tasted that was my favorite was actually from Virginia, Cave Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley.   

One person has reviewed the  Cave Ridge Viogniers on CT and gave them very poor ratings, but they also gave the other Cave Ridge wines low scores, mid 70's-low 80's, which vastly disagrees with my palate.  I just chalk that up to very different palate preferences, since of the wines I've tasted in Virginia, over maybe 20 different producers, Cave Ridge has been my favorite.  Not every wine did I love, but the Viognier and Cab Franc to me were excellent.

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RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 8:46:26 AM   
brigcampbell

 

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  • 2008 White Hall Vineyards Viognier - USA, Virginia, Central Region, Monticello (2/14/2010)
    very light color, nearly clear. Sweet pear and apple on the nose and palate. Paired with Alaskan King Crabs legs for valentines day, perfect. (90 pts.)

    Posted from CellarTracker

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 8:50:31 AM   
    Stirling

     

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    Status: offline     		I have had many Condrieu, and they are spectacular wines but spectacularly expensive. Their bouquet is probably their greatest feature; a hard to describe combination of peach/apricot and exotic flowers. They are beautiful wines to drink, and as one of the earlier commenters said, they do not and probably should not taste like American Viognier. For the most part they are lighter, slightly more acidic than their CA counterparts. Good Viognier can have an unctuousness to it, and if that appeals to you try Alban or Fess Parker. Both can be delicious but, again, as already commented, much more vintage dependent than most grape varietals.

    WA produces some terrific Viognier I have recently discovered. I have only tasted these wines from the cooler 2010 and 2011 vintages and they definitely show a more acidic, leaner profile than their CA counterparts. Often you will find it in a blend with other Rhone varietals such as Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. I have Viognier and Viogner-based blends from Lauren Ashton, Maison Bleu, Darby and Forgeron, all very good and all very reasonably priced. They lacked the "unctuousness" found in the better Condrieu and the two CA examples I mentioned. But that may be more appealing to other tasters (though I am not in that camp myself). I will be interested to try some WA Viogner from the 2012 vintage, a much warmer year than the two that preceded it, and see if these wines show more weight.

    But to answer your question, my favourite US Viognier is the Alban Estate. They also do an Edna Valley bottling, but in my opinion it is worth paying for the Estate bottle.

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 9:10:56 AM   
    bretrooks

     

    Posts: 2863
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    From: San Luis Obispo, CA
    Status: offline     		+1 on Tercero, and on the other end of the spectrum, I've only had one Alban white (years ago, I think was a viognier), but I remember enjoying it.

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 10:09:47 AM   
    fingers

     

    Posts: 8242
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    From: Santa Ana, CA
    Status: offline     		I ran a CT search for Tasting Notes on US Viognier. Among the notable rankings:

    Sine Qua Non Notes (43) / Avg. 93.1 pts. in 34 ratings
    Grand Rêve Vintners / Force Majeure Notes (49) / Avg. 91.3 pts. in 41 ratings
    McPrice Myers Notes (75) / Avg. 90.9 pts. in 61 ratings
    Peay Vineyards Notes (223) / Avg. 90.9 pts. in 198 ratings
    Kent Rasmussen Notes (50) / Avg. 90.6 pts. in 42 ratings
    Ojai Notes (77) / Avg. 90.4 pts. in 68 ratings
    Jaffurs Notes (95) / Avg. 90.3 pts. in 87 ratings
    Denner Notes (180) / Avg. 90.3 pts. in 155 ratings
    Jemrose Notes (118) / Avg. 90.3 pts. in 79 ratings
    Darioush Notes (297) / Avg. 90.2 pts. in 262 ratings
    DuMOL Notes (139) / Avg. 90.2 pts. in 125 ratings
    Failla Notes (55) / Avg. 90.2 pts. in 51 ratings
    Alban Vineyards Notes (610) / Avg. 90.1 pts. in 535 ratings
    Cold Heaven Notes (171) / Avg. 90.1 pts. in 141 ratings


    Of course, the SQN is a late harvest so not a fair fight.

    I can vouch first hand for the McPrice Myers

    < Message edited by fingers -- 3/6/2014 10:21:25 AM >

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 10:14:23 AM   
    annerk

     

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    quote:

    ORIGINAL: gmbdds

    Anne, I've read and enjoyed your posts and I can't imagine you annoyed that wine.


    LOL! Stupid auto-correct on the iPad makes me crazy sometimes.

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    Post #: 17
    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 10:25:37 AM   
    WestbyGod

     

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    From: Seattle (Fremont), WA
    Status: offline     		I have not had Condrieu (mainly due to cost and availability) nor any other USA Viogniers. I've tried many WA Viogniers, including those mentioned elsewhere in this thread, but like the aMaurice versions the best. I prefer the Estate Sparrow over the Columbia Valley bottling, but both are very good and IMO good values.

    Gramercy made their first Viognier last year from vineyards in Lake Chelan. Interesting and not too expensive and potentially one to watch if they continue to make.

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    Post #: 18
    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 12:13:21 PM   
    telemachus87

     

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    quote:

    ORIGINAL: musedir

    I like Force Majeure's and Maison Bleue's Notre Vie Viognier.


    +1 for Force Majeure

    Pride can also be good, depending on the year.

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 1:57:02 PM   
    BRR

     

    Posts: 1839
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    From: Seattle, WA
    Status: offline     		I was really impressed with Watermill Winery's 2011 Viognier. FWIW, 4 CT ratings, and 92/92/90/92.

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 2:06:14 PM   
    mjobtx

     

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    Status: offline     		Melville Viognier Estate Verna'

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 2:22:02 PM   
    Khamen

     

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    From: near Stonehenge, UK
    Status: offline     		Interesting thread - Viognier is not something I readily associate with the US of A

    K

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    Post #: 22
    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 2:27:49 PM   
    khmark7

     

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    quote:

    ORIGINAL: ChrisinSunnyside

    I've never had a Condrieu, so recommendations on those would be appreciated as well. 

    Of American ones I've had, many of the west coast seem too oily and viscous for my palate.  And when they don't have that profile, they seem to lack fruit.  Maybe that is desired/expected for some but steely and minerally is not something I enjoy that much unless there is fruit too.  One I've tasted that was my favorite was actually from Virginia, Cave Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley.   

    One person has reviewed the  Cave Ridge Viogniers on CT and gave them very poor ratings, but they also gave the other Cave Ridge wines low scores, mid 70's-low 80's, which vastly disagrees with my palate.  I just chalk that up to very different palate preferences, since of the wines I've tasted in Virginia, over maybe 20 different producers, Cave Ridge has been my favorite.  Not every wine did I love, but the Viognier and Cab Franc to me were excellent.


    Virginia grows a lot of Viognier. Seems to me that Viognier as a rule is something to be consumed very early in it's life, but perhaps others have had better luck aging this grape. I have not.


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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 3:45:17 PM   
    Bob in NC

     

    Posts: 514
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    quote:

    ORIGINAL: fingers

    I ran a CT search for Tasting Notes on US Viognier. Among the notable rankings:

    Sine Qua Non Notes (43) / Avg. 93.1 pts. in 34 ratings
    Grand Rêve Vintners / Force Majeure Notes (49) / Avg. 91.3 pts. in 41 ratings
    McPrice Myers Notes (75) / Avg. 90.9 pts. in 61 ratings
    Peay Vineyards Notes (223) / Avg. 90.9 pts. in 198 ratings
    Kent Rasmussen Notes (50) / Avg. 90.6 pts. in 42 ratings
    Ojai Notes (77) / Avg. 90.4 pts. in 68 ratings
    Jaffurs Notes (95) / Avg. 90.3 pts. in 87 ratings
    Denner Notes (180) / Avg. 90.3 pts. in 155 ratings
    Jemrose Notes (118) / Avg. 90.3 pts. in 79 ratings
    Darioush Notes (297) / Avg. 90.2 pts. in 262 ratings
    DuMOL Notes (139) / Avg. 90.2 pts. in 125 ratings
    Failla Notes (55) / Avg. 90.2 pts. in 51 ratings
    Alban Vineyards Notes (610) / Avg. 90.1 pts. in 535 ratings
    Cold Heaven Notes (171) / Avg. 90.1 pts. in 141 ratings


    Of course, the SQN is a late harvest so not a fair fight.

    I can vouch first hand for the McPrice Myers


    We have been enjoying the DuMOL Viognier for several years, although certain vintages from Pride have been outstanding - surprised they are not on the list.


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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 4:39:10 PM   
    Old Doug

     

    Posts: 8279
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    From: Atlanta, Georgia, US
    Status: offline     		I definitely like Denner. Had one from Cass a while back that was quite good, the 2011 I think. Know nothing of other vintages.

    Praxis made a good one (at least according to my wife and I) in 2008. At least one later vintage was flabby. Don't we say "gloopy" for wines anymore?


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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 6:27:05 PM   
    S1

     

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    Status: offline     		Peay

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/6/2014 9:40:13 PM   
    Stirling

     

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    quote:

    ORIGINAL: ChrisinSunnyside

    I've never had a Condrieu, so recommendations on those would be appreciated as well. 



    There are not many but I can tell you what I know. Chateau Grillet seems to be the Grail, but I have never had one. Their vineyard is its own appellation.

    But next in reputation, which I have had is Georges Vernay, whose Coteaux de Vernon is amazing. Intense flavours and a finish that does not quit. Very difficult to find.
    Then there are Pierre Gaillard, Patrick et Christophe Bonnefond, and Yves Gangloff. Everyone is a small producer, expensive (think close to $100) but their wines are special, particularly in good vintages.

    A bit more available and affordable is Guigal's Condrieu. Not quite up with the rest of the pack, but pretty good.

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/7/2014 6:20:39 AM   
    ChrisinCowiche

     

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    Status: offline     		Thanks much, Stirling!  Guigal seems most likely to be available near me sine I've seen lots of their wines, but I can surf for others if the mood strikes!

    One other local (to me) Viognier of note is Antolin.  Might have been a one time luck vintage, but their 2011 Viognier, blended with a bit of Roussanne I think, was very good.   Better to my palate than Force Majeure at $18.  

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/7/2014 8:07:54 AM   
    BRR

     

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    quote:

    ORIGINAL: mjobtx

    Melville Viognier Estate Verna'


    How could I forget this one?? Yes!! Perfect interplay of fruit and brightness.

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    RE: Favorite American Viognier? - 3/7/2014 9:39:55 AM   
    kcbrian

     

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    quote:

    ORIGINAL: telemachus87


    quote:

    ORIGINAL: musedir

    I like Force Majeure's and Maison Bleue's Notre Vie Viognier.


    +1 for Force Majeure

    Pride can also be good, depending on the year.


    +2 for the Maison Bleue. Need to try the FM and the Pride.

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