Producer: Yalumba
Wine: Viognier “Y” Series
Vintage: 2005
Country: Australia
Appellation: South Australia
Wine Type: White
Varietal: Viognier
Grade: B
Designation: Cheap and Good
Price: $10

Review:

Yalumba is one of the oldest wineries in Australia, originating back in the year 1849. True, not old by French, Greek, or Italian standards—but it’s practically an Ancient Mariner based on New World standards. Yalumba has wines to cover the full spectrum of varietals common in Australia with red and whites from the top-tier all the way down to everyday value wines. Their “Y” series represents this latter category but they generally deliver higher value than most of their competitors. Their Viognier has been consistently well-made and delicious over several vintages. If you are unfamilar with Viognier, its origins are traced back to the southern Rhone region in France and the varietal invokes aromas and tastes of a spring in Provence. That can’t be bad, can it? In my opinion, it can’t. As proof, Yalumba’s 2005 vintage makes a great case for a delicious good value at around ten bucks. Unscrew the cap, pour, swirl and sniff. You’ll get a sizeable bouquet of breezy honeysuckle blossoms and stone fruit. The mouth livens up with flowers, apricot nectar, and tropical fruit and a creamy coconutty zip. The finish is generous, pleasing complexity and a silky texture that is lush and refreshing. It’s a crowd-pleasing wine and something different than the usual Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. I say, “Ripper”.

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Producer: Yalumba
Wine: Viognier “Y” Series
Vintage: 2005
Country: Australia
Appellation: South Australia
Wine Type: White
Varietal: Viognier
Grade: B
Designation: Cheap and Good
Price: $10

Review:

Yalumba is one of the oldest wineries in Australia, originating back in the year 1849. True, not old by French, Greek, or Italian standards—but it’s practically an Ancient Mariner based on New World standards. Yalumba has wines to cover the full spectrum of varietals common in Australia with red and whites from the top-tier all the way down to everyday value wines. Their “Y” series represents this latter category but they generally deliver higher value than most of their competitors. Their Viognier has been consistently well-made and delicious over several vintages. If you are unfamilar with Viognier, its origins are traced back to the southern Rhone region in France and the varietal invokes aromas and tastes of a spring in Provence. That can’t be bad, can it? In my opinion, it can’t. As proof, Yalumba’s 2005 vintage makes a great case for a delicious good value at around ten bucks. Unscrew the cap, pour, swirl and sniff. You’ll get a sizeable bouquet of breezy honeysuckle blossoms and stone fruit. The mouth livens up with flowers, apricot nectar, and tropical fruit and a creamy coconutty zip. The finish is generous, pleasing complexity and a silky texture that is lush and refreshing. It’s a crowd-pleasing wine and something different than the usual Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. I say, “Ripper”.

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Producer: Shenandoah Vineyards of California
Wine: Sauvignon Blanc, Amador County 2006
Vintage: 2006
Country: USA
Appellation: Amador County
Wine Type: White
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Grade: B
Designation: Cheap and Good
Price:$8

I usually pick up a bottle of Shenandoah’s Zinfandel wine when I want a non-bully Zin. The winery along with their sibling winery, Sobon Estate are located in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California’s Gold Country and they produce wine with organically-grown grapes. On this particular day I wanted to get out of my Shenandoah Zinfandel rut and decided to pick up their $8 Sauvignon Blanc. For that price, I figured, I wasn’t risking much. Now, if I were buying a bottle of Chardonnay at that price I would automatically know I would be regretful and remorseful as I sipped a fruity wine that is probably ungainly with oak and butter-vanillin. I confess I’ve had better Sauvignon Blancs, but I’ve generally paid more for those. The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc’s nose is laden with flowers and spice. It’s crisp and lively with tropical fruit, lime, some green bean bits, and a dimension of toasted coconut and minerals. It offers a clean taste with spring to it. This will make a good default wine to turn to for a refreshing aperitif or companion to seafood and fowl. It’s not exactly like hitting the Mother Lode but finding a sprinkling of dust in the pan that will make you smile.

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