McManis Viognier

Name: McManis Family Vineyards
Color: White
Varietal: Viognier
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: California
Region: Central Valley
Price: $11
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

We enjoyed the McManis Viognier last night with tilapia stuffed with crab meat and some garlic cous cous with black beans. The wine was very good with the meal and on its own. It had a golden straw color and aromas of peaches and apricots. It had a nice medium bodied mouthfeel, with good acidity. The flavor was mostly apple, peach, pear, and citrus. Very clean, crisp, and refreshing.

We've had good success with several Viogniers recently, and the McManis Family Vineyards was no exception. Highly recommended.

We also have a bottle of their Petite Sirah that I can't wait to try.

Renwood Viognier

Name: Renwood Winery
Color: White
Varietal: Viognier
Vintage: 2006
Country/State: California
Region: Lodi
Price: $10
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

This was one of the wines I tried at Ed's Fine Wines last Friday night. I bought a bottle that night and we drank it last night with mahi filets and noodles. The wine was delicious with the fish and on its own. Krista and I quickly finished the bottle before bed.

The Renwood Viognier was a crisp, medium-bodied wine, that was a pale gold color in the glass. The nose was grapefruit, apple, apricot, and citrus. The taste was primarily green apples with really nice acidity. It was very well-balanced and easy drinking. We will definitely keep this one on the list.

White Hall Vineyards Viognier

Name: White Hall Vineyards
Color: White
Varietal: Viognier
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Virginia
Region: Monticello
Price: $17
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

This was the last of the wines we picked up when we were in Virginia earlier this summer. According to the White Hall Vineyards website, this wine is actually 80% Viognier, blended with some Petit Manseng, Muscat, and Gewurtztraminer. Whatever's in it, it was very good. (the picture to the left is from the 2006 vintage, but we had the 2008)

The color was very pale, nearly clear, which is to be expected from such a young wine. The nose and taste were similar -- apple, peaches, honey, and grapefruit. The body of the wine had a nice medium-full weight to it and was very well balanced. It paired nicely with honey-lime scallops and crab meat we had for dinner last night. We finished the bottle later that night after the kids were in bed.

Viognier is Virginia's signature white grape and this wine by White Hall was highly recommended by a Virginia wine store owner. Krista and I both really enjoyed it and would like to try some other Viogniers in the future.