 Tasting Notes |
Elegant and aromatic with lifted aromas of spring flowers, musk and perfume.
Background: Viognier (pronounced Vee-on-yay) is a rare French variety which until recently was grown only in small appellations of northern Rhone, namely Cote Rotie where it is blended with Shiraz to give an aromatic lift and softening effect to the red wine produced and Condrieu and Chateau Grillet which produce some of the rarest and most exquisite white wines available.
In its native environment the Viognier vine is difficult, yielding small crops often with uneven ripening. On the surface it would seem almost perverse to persist with such an ungenerous and petulant vine-until one tastes the wine.
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The atrium that is the entrance to the Dunsborough cellar door and pottery
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Perhaps because of the rarity, the mystique, the challenge, Viognier has captured the imagination of consumers, winemakers and growers alike.
At Happ's Karridale vineyard Viognier has happily taken to the unique climate and soils like a "duck to water" where it ripens and crops well producing appealing aromatic wines of elegance and sophistication.
As is the character of wine made from this variety, Happ's Viognier exhibits a tantalisingly elusive bouquet, some people say of blossom, others musk, still others apricot, orange zest or sweet perfume. What do you say?
Current Vintage 2005
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