Community Tasting Notes 8

• SonomaWilliam wrote: 89 points

  March 29, 2013 - Anytime I see a Viognier under 14% alc I'll consider buying to see the result. As a winemaker I have come to appreciate the difficulty of working with it.
  
  Its a variety that punishes if under ripe - green lean, and bitter. (Marsanne can do the same.)
  Over ripened, which most of CA does and I can't choke down, its slutty, flabby, overly floral, and too high in alcohol.
  Thats a factor of classic CA over hang time, and most Viognier grown in wrong regions...its a cool climate grape, that doesn't belong in Dry Creek Valley or the hot sections of Paso, yet its widely planted during the mini Viognier boom years ago.
  These regions have no choice, often to ripen to 26 brix. or more.
  
  I applaud this release for effort, and a interesting wine, and certainly head & shoulders above most West coast Viognier.
  Certainly Yakima isn't a cool climate, although the vineyard source looks to be higher elevation, and a cooler vintage.
  
  I can't agree at all it shows 'more ripeness' than a Condrieu (aka Norther Rhone) unless that comment was based strictly on alcohol #. The flavor profile is one of a barely ripe Viognier. Its also common to see Condrieu in 12.5-13.5% alc.
  
  Reading vinification notes, its stainless fermented, and malolactic inhibited. I think neutral barrel fermentation & aging, and ML could possibly have added textural elements to soften & round out acid and lean-ness.
  Fined & filtered.
  
  Clear pale yellow.
  Nose of white tea, slight green bean, some under ripe stone fruit. Not your classic Vio overly floral
  Palate: bright. Interesting.
  
  A noteworthy well priced release.

  Comment

• manonthemoon wrote: 91 points

  September 11, 2012 - N vanilla, yellow fruit peel, mineral
  P honey, banana peel, chalk, acid
  F good mouthfeel, good acid

  Comment

• isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 points

  September 11, 2012 - USA White Wines (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): Now we're talking. I am stoked about this viognier. Light yellow color in the glass. The aromas are so damn bright! Lime, mixed flowers, nuts and giner aromas abound. The palate is full and round with tropical fruit, but the acid is high and keeps it in check. Flavors of sweet tarts, tangy limes, honeysuckle and even a dash of minerality. This wine is almost reminiscent of a Northern Rhone viognier, although it shows a bit more ripeness. This wine really evolved over the course of two hours and I definitely think it will improve in complexity over the next five years. Why don't I have Fausse Piste in my cellar? Every wine they make wows me. 91+

  1 person found this helpful Comments (1)

• redwhiteandrich wrote: 88 points

  July 9, 2012 - Minerally goodness. Was not getting much fruit this time around but still refreshing and food friendly. Someone said it was corked but there was no tca to be found.

  Comment

• kenthargis wrote: 81 points

  February 1, 2012 - Decent bottle. Fruit was ok, nothing grand. Crisp, some lemon and pear. Prefer French viogniers.

  Comment

Pro Reviews 1

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2010
• Type White
• Producer Fausse Piste
• Varietal Viognier
• Designation Ma Conviction
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region Washington
• SubRegion Columbia Valley
• Appellation Yakima Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 9 (27%)
• Consumed 24 (73%)

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