The blurb says citrus blossom, ripe abricot, delicate floral. I say medicinal, earthy, hhhhhorrid. Look out water purification plant, here it comes. I do like my Vio but this is something else...

Yes Bacchus, I like a good Viognier from the northern Rhone and parts of the Midi, but it is serious dosh. This is to do wine making technique, with the ground and climate there. Broken iron stone agregates and sand over granite rocks. The Viognier vine needs to struggle, low yielding, and the root stocks need to be the real strain and be older than 20 years. Late picked Vio needs to have cool nights and bright dry days.

I believe the problems we have in enjoying these much cheaper versions of the wine made in other parts of the world, is that it is different. The strain is vigorous and not prone to mildew, the ground is clay and loamy perhaps, and the climate at night is too warm.........Therefore the wine is not the one that is judged by connoisseurs.

Does anyone want to examine the market for a sub £10 Viognier wine that is close to the style and flavour that became so famous ?

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Duncan

There are three vios that I return to when on offer, from three different retailers, and three different countries.

Trivento, Chile, Tesco
Fincas las Moras, Arg, Maj
La Baume, Fr, Wait

Yeah, Mel said La Baume was reasonable for the price http://ccgi.quaffersoffers.co.uk/QOforu ... ight=baume

I'm looking for a wine with some of the correct attrbutes, a poor mans Condrieu Perhaps from the new world - but on the right soil type and made the right way, and in a similar climate .

I'll pay 12 quid for something that tastes like a proper attempt, low yielding, a domaine, not a typical factory cuvee', with some minerality as well as ripe apricot, (and not cloying) and from another place on this beautiful globe.

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Duncan

Not really delved into Vio much.

Had a bad experience with a french number from Threshers that tasted over the hill and rather like sherry and not bothered much since.

Decided to pick up last 2 bottles of Cono Sur reserve Vio at tesco the other week as they were down to the better side of £6.

Tried a few Argie offerings a couple of weeks back too. Tended to prefered those with some oak element included (with see if I can dig out any names)

[edit] Argies tasted and liked:

Dona Paula Naked Pulp Viognier: 11.99 at Oddbins

Lorca Poetico Viognier: 12.49 online retailers

(no real bargains there i'm afraid)

Hmmnn....Coming down in price as a bin end, but I don't want 12 at £8.97 each or so, 4 would be fine. Also the sandy & rocky soils, and the slow rythmn growing season are beginning to get near the right conditions for the Good Stuff. High altitude, so cooler nights. This is a good start.

http://www.oddbins.com/products/product ... code=79918

Cheers for looking Shezza, The Jean Luc Colombo was $14.99 in the States or around £9.00


This one from the Languedoc could be interesting. However, I believe that the best mini producers, which are good value, are on the shelves in France. I will look out for New World deals that started off as expensive, and then, normal folks would not buy them ....because the don't know good Viognier

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Duncan

normal folks would not buy them ....because the don't know good Viognier

That's me i'm afraid. All the viogner i've tasted tastes like apricot/peach vodka.

Why is the alcohol always so high and never in balance on this grape.

I'd rather drink cheap overly oaked Aussie chard. But then... that Condrieu does look interesting.

A good pal of mine has an average spend of 3 or 4 times mine. He also goes to Alsace every year, and one "other place" to buy locally. I ran the Viogner question past him. He reckons that there is not much in the middle range, so either go for your prefered cheaper ones or jump to the real thing. Would be interesting to get MJ's opinion when she is up to facing the world again.