Viognier is a new arrival on the California wine scene. First planted here in the 1980s, these white wine grapes are now producing a remarkable wine that is rapidly gaining in popularity. As with any wine, there are good ones, bad ones and outstanding ones. Bridlewood Viognier Reserve 2007 falls into the latter category.
It may sound like an expensive wine, however, it retails for about $20, the top end for most budget wine enthusiasts. Buying it on sale at BevMo! during the buy one, get one for 5 cents promotion brings the price down to $10 a bottle. For such a fabulous wine, this is too good a wine deal to pass up.
What is Viognier?
First, one must learn how to say it. Viognier is pronounced vee-on-yay. Get the pronunciation down, and you'll sound like a connoisseur. Viognier grapes come from the Rhone region of France, and 50 years ago were almost extinct. The grape is hard to grow, temperamental, and prone to disease and mildew. In addition, it must be picked at the peak to produce the wine. If the peak is off by even a small amount of time, the wine loses it's unique characteristics.
Tasting notes for Viognier
In the glass, Bridlewood Viognier has a pale, straw-like color. It has a seductive, exceptionally fragrant nose with a sweetness to it that comes from the flowery aromas and the tropical fruits. It is heavily redolent of honeysuckle, jasmine, and other pungent flowers. In addition, it has peach blossom and orange blossom scents. These come together to produce a honey-like sweet aftertaste, even though the wine is slightly tart and dry. It is so complex, it's difficult to identify all the flavors in this wine.
Like other Viogniers, this wine has a high alcohol content of 14.5% according to the label.
Pairing Viognier with food
Viognier pairs extremely well with spicy foods. The reviews mention Thai and curries. We tried it with two Mexican foods, Green Chili Verde and Green Chili Enchiladas, and found it to be a delicious combination. It also pairs well with Roast Turkey Breast, other poultry dishes.
When it is made well, this is a remarkable winet. There are some Viogniers coming from the Suisun Valley and Lodi, but if you are trying this wine for the first time, I highly recommend beginning with Bridlewood Viognier Reserve 2007 from Santa Ynez. You can purchase it online or in person at BevMo! or from the Bridlewood Winery website.
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