Jefferson Vineyards

Because it's not done very much or very well here on Long Island, I don't drink a lot of Viognier. There is an East Coast wine world beyond New York, of course and Virginia, one of the better regions is known in some circles as Viognier country. In fact, the editor of the Virginia Wine Gazette likes to use the phrase "Virginia is for Viognier."

I may have limited knowledge of Viognier, but I can tell you this -- Jefferson Vineyards 2005 Viognier is an outstanding, well crafted wine. Just a few swirls releases the wine's aromas up out of the glass -- with fresh flowers, stone fruit and hints of lemon. On the palate, this wine displays ripe fruit with apricots, peachs and pineapples accented by honeysuckle, lemon zest and a light tingle of acidity on a pleasant finish.

The fruit is so ripe here that it almost tastes sweet, but I doubt that there is much, if any residual sugar here.

If I hadn't known that this was a Viognier, I would have pegged it as a floral Riesling. Delicious!

Reviewed August 1, 2006 by Lenn Thompson.