Image courtesy of chefbolek.blogspot.com
Last year I wrote about the white varietal Viognier, spurred by my Mom drinking a favorite of hers over the holidays. It was from Bonterra in California, and we taste tested it against two French Viogniers.
Last weekend my folks were in town, and I purchased some 2011 J.V. Fleury Cotes du Rhone for the visit. Only $14 from Total Wine, we judged it a good Viognier at a good price point. In keeping with last year, we decided to give it another taste test. This time the challenger was from our home state of Virginia.
That wine was the 2011 Stone Mountain Vineyards Viognier, purchased for $16 at Planet Wine in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. The wine had a very Sauvignon Blanc like nose, and was extremely light. There was some quick fruit, and then it was just gone. There just wasn’t much to this wine at all.
Like the 2010 we had last year, the 2011 Fleury was much more satisfying. There was definite melon fruit, balanced with a nice acidity. It had a lingering finish, with a touch of grapefruit. A very crisp, pleasant white, especially as the days get warmer.
This taste test was no contest. If you like white wine and don’t know Viognier, give the Fleury a try. It’s a nice change from the typical Chardonnay.