South Australia 13.5% Screwcap $12.95
I’m not too sure on the RRP of these Yalumba Y series, but you’ll be able to pick them up between $9 and $15 depending on where you shop. As is generally the case with the Viognier, the winery have delivered a varietally correct wine that’s big on flavour. I’m intrigued by the alcohol readings on the label though; 13.5% equates to 8.7 standard drinks? Perhaps the + or – 1.5% is being taken advantage of…it certainly tastes higher than 13.5%.
Straight away, it smacks you upside the head with dried apricots. Once you’ve had time to recover from that you’ll find tinned pineapple, ginger sweets, honeysuckle and canned peaches sprinkled with nutmeg. It’s all a touch syrupy and there is some warmth which is slightly distracting on the finish. A streak of acidity cuts through it, enlivening the palate whilst somehow seeming a little less than natural.
If it sounds like I’m being harsh, remember the price. This is not a great Viognier. In fact I was kind of hoping for something more from the 2010 vintage…but my expectations of Yalumba are high. There’s quite enough full bodied white wine pleasure to be had here. I suspect that sometimes I can be more critical of varieties that I really want to see done well. This isn’t a wine I’d purchase, simply because I want more out of a Viognier. Hopefully the new release Organic Riverland, Eden Valley and Virgilius versions will satisfy that craving, when I get the chance to taste them. They are notorious for arriving on Brisbane retail shelves quite a while after release…
Winery website- http://www.yalumba.com/