2014 Cline Cellars Viognier Estate Grown Sonoma Coast

Community Tasting Notes (1) Median Score: 87 points

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  5/14/2021 - forceberry wrote: 85 Points

  Aged in stainless steel (2/3) and neutral oak barriques (1/3). 14% alcohol.
  
  Pale straw yellow color. Big, sweetish and somewhat tropical nose with heady aromas of apricots, wax and some alcohol, a little bit of earthy spice, light savory notes of old wood, an evolved hint of wizened golden apples and a touch of poached pear. The wine feels ripe, round and full-bodied on the palate with slightly sweet-toned flavors of peach, spicy red apple, some wizened apricots, a little bit of savory old wood, light creamy tones and a subtle hint of vanilla. The high alcohol lends a bit of warmth to the palate. The medium-plus acidity keeps the wine somewhat in balance, but doesn't lend much sense of freshness to the wine. The finish is juicy, dry-ish and slightly warm with medium-long flavors of white peach and ripe apricots, some wizened apple tones, a little bit of exotic spice, light woody tones and a hint of beeswax.
  
  A somewhat pleasant Viognier that certainly shows the varietal qualities (lush apricot tones, spicy undertones and modest acidity), but comes across as a bit dull and stuffy - I guess it's just the barrel-aging component. Even though the barrels are old, they still seem to contribute some woody tones to the wine, and at least in my books oaky notes don't seem to go hand in hand with Viognier. The wine is not overdone in any way, but it's not a bullseye either. Overall the lush, somewhat sweet-toned and slightly fat overall character reminds me quite a bit of Alsatian Pinot Gris - only with a slightly more tropical and subtly woody flavor.

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