Les Jamelles Viognier 2013, France
Twenty years ago, Viognier was almost unknown. Traditionally it was a minor blending grape of the Rhône Valley in France, more or less anonymous apart from two tiny and specialist appellations where it was celebrated, Condrieu and Château Grillet. These produced some great Viognier wines, but they were rare and expensive. However, there has been something of a Viognier explosion since then, with lots of plantings in Australia, Chile and around the world, and a lot in the Languedoc too, just a little further south and west of Viognier's Rhône homeland. This is a really nice example of Viognier in its slightly subtler mood. Some examples can be very flowery, flamboyant and rather OTT with high alcohol and massive richness. This 13% alcohol example has perfect peach and apricot aromas that are so typical of the grape, and a medium-bodied palate that marries more of that stone fruit flavour with excellent balancing freshness and lime and lemon acidity. A very nicely pitched example of Viognier - and very good buy at the offer price. Normally it's £6.49, at The Co-Operative, but it is on offer at £5.49 from June 26 - July 15, 2014.
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