Viognier is frequently keeping the beat or playing the rhythm for a big star, like Chardonnay. That being said, sometimes the wine world lets this uniquely musky varietal play a solo, and really try to shine. While it doesn’t have the biggest kick of acid, it has a rather round mouth feel, and plenty of stone fruit and musky floral characteristics. Much like the grenache syrah from a few days ago, Les Acanthes Viognier also hails from France, and could potentially be a Thanksgiving contender. Does 2009 Les Acanthes Viognier have potential as a Thanksgiving wine, or is it just to unusual without Chardonnay support?
Sight: This is probably one of the most amazingly golden wines yet. It’s just a rich gold, but still lively.
Smell: There’s a banana vanilla note running through this wine. It picks up a lot of floral notes like honeysuckle, jasmine, and lilac. There’s minor melon, papaya, and lemon characteristics as well.
Sip: This wine has a full body, almost viscous in a way. The acid is there, but subdued and mild. It’s not a particularly in your face wine, and leans toward being understated. Flavor wise, it’s rather calm, vanilla shows up with a lot of lilac, peach, and apricot. There’s a subtle implication of something spicy, like jasmine or rosemary as well. [A.B.V. 13.5%]
Savor: There’s a touch of lily that floats around, with a hint of vanilla, and a whole flower shop. It’s marginally like eating a wild flower in the summer.
Overall, 2009 Les Acanthes Viognier is like a bouquet from the florist stuffed in a glass. The smoothness of the Viognier is nice, and the perfumed nature is beautiful. While this can complement foods prepared with lots of fresh herbs, it might not be as good a match as Gewurztraminer for the standard Thanksgiving dinner. People looking for an alternative to Chardonnay might still give this a shot for the meal since it has the right body and oaked style, just a rather different flare than the common Chard.
Verdict: Bottle full of flowers
Price: $7.99
Vin de Pays d’Oc, France