2018 Alban Vineyards Viognier Central Coast California White

2018 Alban Vineyards Viognier Central Coast

93 RP

Featured Review

The 2018 Viognier has a wonderful, classic perfume: honeysuckle and quince with an intense core of peachy fruit plus accents of honeyed oats, baker’s yeast and citrus peel. The palate is medium-bodied, intensely flavored and extraordinarily fresh, finishing very long. So lovely! Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 93 RP

Coming half from the estate vineyards and half from purchased fruit, the 2018 Viognier Central Coast is well worth seeking out. Offering classic apricot, citrus blossom, and floral notes, it’s medium to full-bodied, has nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It should be easier to find than the estate and certainly shares plenty in common with its big brother.

Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

Limpid green-tinged straw. Aromas of fresh peach, pear nectar and tangerine are complemented by smoky mineral and floral nuances. In a weighty yet animated style, showing excellent clarity and spicy thrust to the juicy orchard and pit fruit flavors. Finishes very long, smooth and sappy, displaying a sexy floral quality and a hint of ginger. In the context of world-class Viognier, this wine is a simply remarkable value.

Vinous Media | 92 VM

Type of Wine	California White : If you're in the mood for a creative, compelling white wine, few regions can compete with California, and it's immense varietal diversity. With the pure, potent essence of grapes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, these wines will stimulate your senses and arouse your intellect. Give in, and enjoy.
Varietal	Viognier : Northern Rhone is home to some of the most hedonistic wines in the world, which can be greatly credited to the mighty Syrah grape. However, the white grapes of the region produce wines just as dizzyingly spectacular and pleasure-inducing as the reds. They may be overshadowed and overlooked, but not to be underestimated. One such grape is Viognier, which hails from, arguably, the Northern Rhone’s most distinctive wine appellation, Condrieu. The appellation of Condrieu was officially created in 1940; it has since been exclusively devoted to the Viognier grape. However, the cradle of Viognier had enjoyed the presence of this mighty white for many centuries prior to its formation. The first historical reference of Viognier was mentioned in the same breath as the Condrieu region in 1781, in Barthelemy Faujas de Saint-Fonds’ Histoire Naturelle de la Province de Dauphine, in which it was written as “Vionnier.” It is likely much older and is speculated to have arrived to France during the time of the ancient Romans. Nonetheless, the varietal enjoyed great fame and success in Northern Rhone up until middle of the 20th century when it nearly faced extinction. With only 8 hectares remaining in the region (and the world) Viognier was slowly revived by devotees and advocates of the varietal and its fortunes have been reversed with greater regional, national and international plantings. Since its renaissance in the 1970s, the Viognier grape and the wines of Condrieu have gained increasing popularity among consumers and growers alike. Today, Viognier represents nearly 5,500 hectares of vines in France. It has traveled beyond its borders and is distributed among many localities in Northern Rhone, such as the neighboring hillsides of Chateau Grillet, Ampuis and Cote Rotie. It is also gaining traction for its success in Southern Rhone and the Languedoc. Some successful plantings have taken root in the soils of South Africa, Australia and California; however, the grape is fussy and needs great care and attention for it to prosper. Viognier is known to be unforgiving and difficult to manage in the vineyards; it is hard to cultivate and not naturally inclined to producing healthy, reliable yields. The thick-skinned, white and amber colored grapes are mid to late ripening and have naturally low acidity which require a great deal of sunshine to ripen properly. It is quite sensitive to heat; too much direct sunlight can yield overblown, hotly alcoholic wines which lack the grape’s true characteristics. Despite its difficulties, the grape reaches its true zenith in the hilly terrain and terroir of Condrieu, which is comprised of limestone, mica, schist and granite soils. The wines produced from Viognier are deep golden in color, with an unmistakable, heady aroma of apricots, peaches and honeysuckle. Some wines take on herbal notes of chamomile, lavender, thyme and pine, depending on the location in which it is cultivated. When Viognier is crafted into sweeter styles, the hallmark aromas are softened and infiltrated by honeyed notes. On the palate the wines can range from light and spritzy to the oaked versions of rich and creamy flavor and texture, with a highly viscous mouth-feel. Viognier is king of Condrieu, its stronghold; it has greatly influence winemaking in the Rhone Valley and is now being internationally cultivated. It may still need an introduction to a majority of consumers; though, pleasure seekers are probably well aware of the grape’s hedonistic qualities. Viognier has come back from the brink of extinction and today is considered to be one of the most distinctive, seductive and unforgettable varieties in the world.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.