2009 Melville Viognier Verna's Estate
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Tasting notes
Fresh and mineral-laced, showing steely peach and pear fruits, honey, and touches of flowers on the nose, the 2009 Melville Viognier Estate Verna's is medium bodied on the palate with good acidity, a touch of sweetness through the middle, and a clean dry finish. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Greenish gold. Pungent aromas of lime, peach skin, mint, crushed stone and anise, plus a suggestion of spun sugar. Juicy, supple and palate-coating, with a dusty tactile quality to the lush flavors of pineapple and pit fruits. A seductive, rich but vibrant rendition of viognier that would be great with spicy Asian dishes.
The full-bodied 2009 Viognier Verna’s Vineyard Estate continues to showcase this vineyard’s ability to produce a Viognier with minerality, wonderful delineation, and abundant complexity as well as freshness. Possibly the finest 100% Viognier being produced in California, its complex aromatics include notes of white peaches, apricots, honeysuckle, wet rocks, and assorted tropical fruits. The wine is somewhat ostentatious, but at the same time reveals a sense of restraint and gracefulness. This fresh, vibrant white should be drunk over the next year as the aromatics for Viognier tend to deteriorate quickly. This sensational Santa Rita Hills estate owned by the Melville family continues to turn out gorgeous wines that are made and looked after by Greg Brewer of the Brewer-Clifton winery. The prices are absurdly fair for such quality. Tel. (805) 735-7030; Fax (805) 735-5310