Virginia is surely among the world’s leading locations for growing Viognier — if not indeed the single best source. This is a fine example, with excellent aromatic expressiveness but none of the heaviness or alcoholic heat that results from the high levels of ripeness needed to bring forth the grape’s floral aromas (a problem that’s quite chronic in California, for example). Classic notes of honeysuckle and flavors of ripe peaches are both evident and nicely tuned in this rendition, which was both grown and made very skillfully.
Trump Winery, Monticello (Virginia) Viognier 2021
By Michael Franz