The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Santa Barbara County

Varietal   Viognier

Retail Price   $22

ABV   14%

Score   4.5 Stars/94 points

In the Glass

Brilliant straw color.

Wonderfully fragrant and floral with scents of honeysuckle, ginger, spring flowers, lychee, and apricot with hints of lime zest, and grapefruit.

The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a slight sweeter and richer than expected with silky honey and orchard fruit notes flanked by citrus.

Full-bodied with waves of ripe fruit while being ideally balanced with crisp acidity.

Cool Factor

I love great American examples of Viognier as so many fail to capture the charm and balance of this varietal as this one does.

Value Grade

At over $20 it will leave many bargain hunters behind but considering the quality and limited production the price is spot on for me.

Analysis

Made with 100% Viognier sourced from the Los Alamos Vineyard, a cool climate vineyard along Highway 101 in the Los Alamos Valley. This is a classic example of how complex and balanced Viognier can be when grown in ideal locations like this and then crafted by a skilled winemaker like Megan McGrath Gates.

How to Enjoy

This wine needs nothing more than a glass but it’s great with roasted chicken or grilled salmon.