Viognier

Viognier has ’wow’ factor which gives it cult status, but it’s a bit of a Loose Cannon. The best ones balance the variety’s richness and depth with real flavour and not too much alcohol which is why this example is only 13%.

Great Viognier smells terrific! It’s like walking into someone’s garden on a warm evening and getting that faint waft of white flowers: jasmine, honeysuckle, or orange blossom. We work carefully to avoid the overly-alcoholic, broadness that some Viogniers show. We handpick, press carefully, then ferment half in our best old oak barrels (to gather complexity) and half in tank (to retain freshness).

There is citrus and spice, creaminess from yeast lees contact and while generous, is not over-blown and ’blousy’ (what a great term). The heady fragrance works with a fragrant Moroccan tagine or if you want a blast from the past – apricot chicken!