Viognier
853. Trinity Hill, Noble Viognier Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay, 2010
[Tim, wishing you all the best for your MW future. Has been a real pleasure talking with you. John Hancock. 30/9/14. Planet of the …
794. Pierre Gaillard, Condrieu, 2010
A decent Condrieu, though perhaps not as high up the scale as Villard’s 2010s, that stood on the knife-edge between fullness and crispness; ripe …
697. Didier Morion, Condrieu Vent d’Anges, 2010
After Bollinger Grande Année 1999, this was a comedy / random first still white at dinner with Tim, Kristy, Matt, Ellie and Goof. And …
666. François Villard, Condrieu DePoncins, 2010
This is superb – showing the finer side of 2010 Northern Rhône whites – especially Condrieu. More fruit-driven than the toastier Grand Vallon. But …
645. Neyret-Gachet, Château-Grillet, 2006
A great start to Christmas Eve dining that changed continually with aeration and warming, to reveal a rich, complex, but balanced white. This certainly …
Paso Robles to Santa Cruz Mountains: Central Coast diversity
Paso Robles to the Santa Cruz Mountains – or ‘the rest of the Central Coast’, between Santa Barbara County and the city of San …
440. François Villard, Condrieu Le Grand Vallon, 2006
This was a beauty. Mature, but with concentration to age gracefully for another 5 years, maybe? Quite dense garnet colour (medium, rather than light …
332. Heggies Vineyard, Viognier Eden Valley, 2005
Another different white from the Optimor case. I was particularly pleased because I guessed this as being barrel fermented, before looking at the label …
268. d’Arenberg, Shiraz Viognier The Laughing Magpie McLaren Vale, 2003
A pleasant drink but an advert for taking 0.5-1% off the ABV. Was browsing a wine shop in Kilkenny when I noticed a few …
Top 5 grape varieties of the moment
There are 1,368 commercially-grown grape varieties documented in the above great tome. I will never taste them all, but I have tasted a fair …