2004 Kongsgaard Viognier/Roussanne
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Tasting notes
(a 55/45 blend; bottled after ten months in barrel, at the same time as the 2003 chardonnay) Bright, pale yellow. Pungent aromas of citrus zest, minerals and flowers. Penetrating and firm-edged in the mouth, with highly perfumed flavors of crystallized lemon peel, minerals, smoke and candle wax. This has an exhilarating sugar/acid snap, with a sweet/tart quality that continued to bring this taster back for another sip. (In fact, I polished off this bottle a few hours later over dinner.)
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Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
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One of the fun wines in Kongsgaard’s portfolio is his playful blend of Roussanne and Viognier. The chunky 2004 (55% Viognier and 45% Roussanne) is not quite up to the level of the previous two vintages, no doubt because the heat of 2004 forced him to harvest earlier than normal. Its evolved light gold color is accompanied by a kinky nose of litchi nuts intermixed with nectarines, marmalade, and honeysuckle. It will offer a pleasant glass of Rhone Ranger white over the next 2-3 years. Fax (707) 963-4512