On the 31st of October we re-visited the cultivar Viognier. It has been quite some time since we lasted tasted Viognier in a flight together. The idea came from Jeremy Borg’s tasting of his Painted Wolf wines, with that yummy juicy Viognier of his. I put together a set of notes on what constitutes to be an excellent Viognier in the 2020’s for the tasters information. A list of the Viognier’s available at Liquor City, Makro, Norman Goodfellows and Woolworths was made and the best (highest rated) examples were bought (list available). Each taster received a full set of notes detailing vineyard, chemical analysis, winemaking information and winemakers notes (notes available upon request). The wines were served in one flight and at the same temperature. The following is the tasting, the comments made by the tasters and the average scores.
1. Creation 2022
Colour- light green heart, with a golden rim. Nose- citrus with orange, lanolin, sherbet. Palate- crisp acidity, apples, meaty, sherbet, oranges that linger to the finish.
Score- 15.71.
2. Alvis Drift Signature 2022
Colour- light green heart, with a golden rim. Nose- peach, floral with honey suckle and orange blossom, jasmine, lanolin. Palate- crisp acidity, soft, spices, oranges, ripe white peach that lingers to the finish.
Score- 16.14.
3. Kleinood Tamboerskloof 2022
Colour- light green. Nose- floral with orange blossoms, citrus, apples, peach, fleshy stone fruits. Palate- crisp acidity, slight citrusy sweetness, peaches that linger to the finish, almost floral.
Score- 16.71.
4. Ridgeback 2022
Colour- light green heart, with a golden rim. Nose- citrus, lemon curd, toasty, butterscotch, lemon. Palate- crisp acidity, toasty, lime, soft peaches and pears, meaty, heavy, canned stewed fruit, nutty.
Score- 17.14.
5. Ken Forrester 2021
Colour- light green. Nose- slightly chemical, terpene, smoky, lemon, flinty, apples. Palate- crisp acidity, lanolin, apples, lemon drops that lingers to the finish.
Score- 15.57.
6. Eagles Nest 2021
Colour- light green heart, with a golden rim. Nose- apple, lemon, pineapple, spice, liquorice, lime. Palate- crisp but soft acids, toasty, cloves, spices, nutty, coconut, lime and lemon that linger to the finish.
Score- 16.86.
Interesting tasting, with the big conversation points, the Ridgeback, the Eagles Nest and the Tamboerskloof. No surprise with all the discussion was that the top wine was the Ridgeback, second Eagles Nest and third the Tamboerskloof. No one liked the Ken Forrester, all thought that there was a chemical kerosene or terpene feel to the wine. The Creation was strangely out of balance and thin? Thanks to all who attended and made the tasting a real fun, learning experience!
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